All Pennsylvania Department of Education (FDE) employees have a responsibility for maintaining high standards of conduct and ethical behavior. Employee conduct which violates these standards will not be tolereated.

Harassment on the basis at sex is a violation of Section 703 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 2000e-2, and of the Governor's Executive order 1993-1, which defines sexual harassment as "unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature if:

a.	submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment; or
b.	submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individuals; or
c.	Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment."

An employee who sexually harasses another employee or employees will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action. Supervisors who either condone or fail to act to correct sexual harassment brought to their attention also may be subject to disciplinary action.

Recent court decisions demonstrate that neither the PDE nor any other employer can tolerate or condone the existence of a hostile or offensive work environment in which sexual harassment and intimidation are present. The PDE is committed to ensuring that the work environment is free of sexual harassment and other unlawful discriminatory practices.

Employees are encouraged to report any instances of sexual harassment. Such complaints should be directed to one's supervisor (if appropriate), or to the Affirmative Action Officer. The complaints will be examined and resolved promptly and impartially.

Eugene W. Hickok
Secretary of Education

May 1995