Policy Against Harassment

federal, state, or local law, ordinance or regulation.

Sexual harassment is sex discrimination and is unlawful under federal law by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the laws of California. The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission states that sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

1. submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment;
2. submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for an employment decision affecting an employee;
3. or such conduct has the purpose of effect or unreasonably interfering with an employee's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.

Sexual harassment can occur between a supervisor and an employee, between co-workers of the opposite or same sex, and by customers or other visitors. To that end, Proteus' Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy applies to all employees involved in the operation of Proteus. Each person in this organization has a responsibility to immediately report any questionable conduct, to not engage in sexual harassment and to ensure that others, including visitors or customers, do not engage in such conduct.

Prohibited unlawful harassment includes, but is not limited to, the following behavior:

1. Verbal conduct such as epithets, derogatory jokes or comments, slurs or unwelcome (recipient or observer did not want, encourage, invite, or solicit the conduct) sexual advances, invitations or comments;
2. Visual conduct such as derogatory and/or sexually-oriented posters, photography, cartoons, drawings or gestures;
3. Physical conduct such as assault, unwanted touching, blocking normal movement or interfering with work because of sex, race or any other protected basis;
4. Threats and demands to submit to sexual requests as a condition of continued employment, or to avoid some other loss, and offers of employment benefits in return for sexual favors; and
5. Retaliation for having reported or threatened to report harassment.

Proteus prohibits use of the computers, e-mail system, voice mail system and any other electronic media in ways which are offensive to others, or are otherwise discriminatory, harassing or obscene, or for any other purpose which is illegal, against Proteus policy or not in the best interest of Proteus. For example, the display or transmission of sexually explicit images, jokes, messages, and cartoons is prohibited. Other such misuse of electronic media includes, but is not limited to, ethnic slurs, racial comments, off-color jokes, or anything that may be construed as harassment, discrimination or showing disrespect for others. Any such use of the computers, e-mail system, voice mail system, or other electronic media will be considered a violation of Proteus' Policy Against Harassment.

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