Lewes adopts anti-bullying policy

“The vision of the city employees is to cultivate an environment of public service excellence.”

It’s a straightforward sentence that seems obvious on its surface, but Lewes Mayor and City Council voted May 23 to add it to the personnel manual, a measure aimed at ensuring it’s a philosophy that is followed throughout its operations. The purpose is to clarify that harassment will not be tolerated by anyone representing or working with the city toward an applicant, employee or volunteer. Violation of the new policy could lead to termination.

“There are some behaviors that don’t quite cross into legal harassment but are still inappropriate, and we want to make sure we are covering those behaviors as well,” said City Manager Ann Marie Townshend.

If a person is subjected to harassment, they must report the behavior as soon as possible to the correct supervisor. Lewes defines bullying as unwanted, aggressive behavior by one or more individuals toward another individual or group using behavior that includes but is not limited to:

• Threatening, humiliating, or intimidating behaviors
• Work interference/sabotage that prevents work from getting done
• Verbal abuse.

Examples of the different types of bullying are verbal (slander, ridicule, insults, humiliation, etc.), physical (pushing, shoving, kicking, poking, assault, etc.), gesturing and excluding.  

After the incident has been reported, an investigation involving interviews with all parties will take place. The matter will be handled as confidentially as possible, and a third party can be brought in to investigate the complaint. If bullying is determined to have occurred, corrective actions will be taken, ranging from warnings to termination. Retaliation will not be allowed, but if either party is unsatisfied with the ruling, there is an appeal process available.

Mayor and city council voted unanimously to add the amendment to the personnel manual, making it effective immediately.

More information about the anti-bullying policy is available at ci.lewes.de.us.