A majority of NOAA employees treat each other courteously, respectfully, and professionally. Sexual harassment, however, breaches the standard we have set for ourselves in the workplace and will not be tolerated. In feedback from our 1998 Survey Feedback Action questionnaire, we learned that while sexual harassment in NOAA is infrequent, it has still occurred. I want to reiterate that NOAA, and in fact the entire Department of Commerce, has a zero-tolerance policy for any type of sexual harassment. As a federal employee, you have a right to a workplace free of unlawful sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment involves unwelcome sexual conduct.
If you believe you are being subjected to unwelcome sexual attention, you need to tell someone immediately. You should report the conduct to your supervisor, your servicing human resources specialist, or an EEO counselor. Another option is to tell the harasser, orally or in writing, specifically what behavior you find offensive and make it clear that you want it to stop. If the harassing behavior continues after you have confronted the harasser, you should report the conduct to your supervisor, your servicing human resources specialist, or an EEO counselor. Allegations of sexual harassment will be promptly investigated.