The Board of Trustees desires to provide a positive and safe work environment where employees, interns, volunteers, and job applicants are free from harassment and are assured of equal access and opportunities in accordance with law. No district employee shall be discriminated against or harassed by any coworker, supervisor, manager, or other person with whom the employee comes in contact in the course of employment, on the basis of the employee's actual or perceived race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, or sexual orientation or his/her association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
(cf. 0410 - Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities)
(cf. 4032 - Reasonable Accommodation)
(cf. 4033 - Lactation Accommodation)
(cf. 4119.11/4219.11/4319.11 - Sexual Harassment)
(cf. 4119.41/4219.41/4319.41 - Employees with Infectious Disease)
(cf. 4154/4254/4354 - Health and Welfare Benefits)
(cf. 5145.7 - Sexual Harassment)
No district employee shall be discriminated against or harassed by any coworker, supervisor, manager, or other person with whom the employee comes in contact in the course of employment, on the basis of the employee's actual or perceived race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, or sexual orientation or his/her association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
(cf. 0410 - Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities)
Discrimination in employment based on the characteristics listed above is prohibited in all areas of employment and in all employment-related practices, including the following:
1. Discrimination in hiring, compensation, terms, conditions, and other privileges of employment
2. Taking of an adverse employment action, such as termination or the denial of employment, promotion, job assignment, or training
(cf. 4151/4251/4351 - Employee Compensation)
(cf. 4154/4254/4354 - Health and Welfare Benefits)
3. Unwelcome conduct, whether verbal, physical, or visual, that is so severe or pervasive as to adversely affect an employee's employment opportunities, or that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment
4. Actions and practices identified as unlawful or discriminatory pursuant to Government Code 12940 or 2 CCR 11006-11086, such as:
a. Sex discrimination based on an employee's pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or any related medical condition or on an employee's gender, gender expression, or gender identity, including transgender status
(cf. 4033 - Lactation Accommodation)
(cf. 4119.11/4219.11/4319.11 - Sexual Harassment)
b. Religious creed discrimination based on an employee's religious belief or observance, including his/her religious dress or grooming practices, or based on the district's failure or refusal to use reasonable means to accommodate an employee's religious belief, observance, or practice which conflicts with an employment requirement.
c. Disability discrimination based on a district requirement for a medical or psychological examination of a job applicant, or an inquiry into whether a job applicant has a mental or physical disability or a medical condition or as to the severity of any such disability or condition, without the showing of a job-related need or business necessity
(cf. 4119.41/4219.41/4319.41 - Employees with Infectious Disease)
d. Disability discrimination based on the district's failure to make reasonable accommodation for the known physical or mental disability of an employee or to engage in a timely, good faith, interactive process with an employee, to determine effective reasonable accommodations for the employee, when he/she has requested reasonable accommodation for a known physical or mental disability or medical condition
The Board also prohibits retaliation against any district employee who opposes any discriminatory employment practice by the district or its employees, agents, or representatives or who complains, testifies, assists, or in any way participates in the district's complaint process pursuant to this policy. No employee who requests an accommodation for any protected characteristic listed in this policy shall be subjected to any punishment or sanction, regardless of whether the request was granted. (Government Code 12940
(cf. 4032 - Reasonable Accommodation)
The Board also prohibits retaliation against any district employee or job applicant who complains, testifies, assists, or in any way participates in the district's complaint procedures instituted pursuant to this policy.
Any district employee who engages in prohibited discrimination, harassment, or retaliation or who aids, abets, incites, compels, or coerces another to engage or attempt to engage in such behavior in violation of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.
The Superintendent or designee shall use all appropriate means to reinforce the district's nondiscrimination policy. He/she shall provide training and information to employees about how to recognize harassment, discrimination, or other related conduct, how to respond appropriately, and components of the district's policies and regulations regarding discrimination. The Superintendent or designee shall regularly review the district's employment practices and, as necessary, shall take action to ensure district compliance with the nondiscrimination laws.
(cf. 4117.4 - Dismissal)
(cf. 4118 - Suspension/Disciplinary Action)
(cf. 4218 - Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action)
The following position is designated as Coordinator for Nondiscrimination in Employment:
Dr. Steven Miller, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources
4161 West 147th Street
Lawndale, CA 90260 (310) 973-1300 x 50059
Any employee or job applicant who believes that he/she has been or is being discriminated against or harassed in violation of district policy should, as appropriate, immediately contact his/her supervisor, the Coordinator, or the Superintendent who shall advise the employee or applicant about the district's procedures for filing, investigating, and resolving any such complaint.
Complaints regarding employment discrimination or harassment shall immediately be investigated in accordance with AR 4031 - Complaints Concerning Discrimination in Employment.
(cf. 4031 - Complaints Concerning Discrimination in Employment)
Any supervisory or management employee who observes or has knowledge of an incident of prohibited discrimination or harassment shall report the incident to the Coordinator or Superintendent as soon as practical after the incident. All other employees are encouraged to report such incidents to their supervisor immediately.
Training and Notifications
In addition, the Superintendent or designee shall post, in a conspicuous place on district premises, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing publication on workplace discrimination and harassment issued pursuant to 2 CCR 11013.
The Superintendent or designee shall provide training to employees about how to recognize harassment and discrimination, how to respond appropriately, and components of the district's policies and regulations regarding discrimination.
(cf. 4131- Staff Development)
(cf. 4231- Staff Development)
(cf. 4331- Staff Development)
The Superintendent or designee shall regularly publicize, within the district and in the community, the district's nondiscrimination policy and the availability of complaint procedures. Such publication shall be included in each announcement, bulletin, or application form that is used in employee recruitment. (34 CFR 100.6, 106.9)
The district's policy shall be posted in all district schools and offices including staff lounges and student government meeting rooms. (5 CCR 4960)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
200-262.4 Prohibition of discrimination
CIVIL CODE
51.7 Freedom from violence or intimidation
GOVERNMENT CODE
11135 Unlawful discrimination
12900-12996 Fair Employment and Housing Act
PENAL CODE
422.56 Definitions, hate crimes
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 2
7287.6 Terms, conditions and privileges of employment
11006-11086 Discrimination in employment
11013 Recordkeeping
11019 Terms, conditions and privileges of employment
11023 Harassment and discrimination prevention and correction
11024 Sexual harassment training and education
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
4900-4965 Nondiscrimination in elementary and secondary education programs
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
1681-1688 Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 29
621-634 Age Discrimination in Employment Act
794 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 42
2000d-2000d-7 Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended
2000e-2000e-17 Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended
2000ff-2000ff-11 Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008
2000h-2-2000h-6 Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
6101-6107 Age discrimination in federally assisted programs
12101-12213 Americans with Disabilities Act
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 28
35.101-35.190 Americans with Disabilities Act
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 34
100.6 Compliance information
104.7 Designation of responsible employee for Section 504
104.8 Notice
106.8 Designation of responsible employee and adoption of grievance procedures
106.9 Dissemination of policy
110.1-110.39 Nondiscrimination on the basis of age
COURT DECISIONS
Thompson v. North American Stainless LP, (2011) 131 S.Ct. 863 Shephard v. Loyola Marymount, (2002) 102 Cal.App.4th 837
Management Resources:
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS PUBLICATIONS
Notice of Non-Discrimination, August 2010
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION PUBLICATIONS
Questions and Answers: Religious Discrimination in the Workplace, 2008
New Compliance Manual Section 15: Race and Color Discrimination, April 2006
Enforcement Guidance: Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship under the Americans with Disabilities Act, October 2002
Enforcement Guidance: Vicarious Employer Liability for Unlawful Harassment by Supervisors, June 1999
WEB SITES
California Department of Fair Employment and Housing: http://www.dfeh.ca.gov
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: http://www.eeoc.gov
Policy LAWNDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: September 4, 2012 Lawndale, California
revised: May 21, 2013
revised: June 4, 2013
revised: August 16, 2016
revised: September 6, 2016
revised: February 21, 2017
revised: September 5, 2017
revised: September 5, 2017