Disagreement, humor, or confusion are examples of natural states which, when taken too far, may lead to inappropriate conduct. Harassment in the workplace is illegal according to state and federal law. Inappropriate conduct which is less than harassment will be subject to the City of Bristol's disciplinary procedures. Inappropriate conduct does not refer to discussions or occasional comments of a socially acceptable nature. Inappropriate conduct degrades the City of Bristol and interferes with the effective and efficient delivery of municipal services.
Harassment is a harsher form of inappropriate conduct that undermines the employment relationship.
The City of Bristol wants you to have a work environment free of inappropriate conduct by management personnel, by your coworkers and by others with whom you must interact in the course of your work as a City of Bristol employee. Harassment is specifically prohibited as unlawful and as a violation of The City of Bristol's policy. Inappropriate conduct which is less than harassment may still be a violation of the City's policies. The City of Bristol management at the department level is responsible for training according to this policy, for preventing inappropriate conduct in the workplace, for taking immediate corrective action to stop inappropriate conduct in the workplace and, under the authority of the Director of Human Resources, for promptly investigating any allegation of work-related inappropriate conduct. Under no circumstances will the alleged offender be in any authority concerning the investigation.