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or reflects negatively on the City, or that which has an adverse impact on the functioning of
<br />one or more City employees or departments, or the City as a whole.
<br />2) Conduct in Dealing with the Public
<br />While representing the City, employees shall be courteous to all members of the public.
<br />They shall be tactful in the performance of their duties, control their tempers and exercise
<br />patience and professional judgment. They shall not engage in argumentative discussions or
<br />behavior prohibited by this policy, even if provoked. They shall not use coarse, violent~
<br />profane or disrespectful language or gestures, and shall not express any prejudice
<br />concerning race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, sex, marital status,
<br />familial status, age, sexual orientation, membership or activity in a local human rights
<br />commission status with regard to public assistance other characteristic protected by State
<br />or federal anti -discrimination law, lifestyle, or other personal characteristics. Employees
<br />shall not engage in violent behavior, discriminatory behavior, or offensive behavior when
<br />interacting with any member of the public.
<br />In the event a member of the public becomes abusive, employees should refrain from
<br />escalating the situation and if possible, employ tactics to defuse the situation. While each
<br />employee is expected to use his or her best professional judgment to determine the most
<br />appropriate and effective way to interact with members of the public, some potential tactics
<br />include, lower the voice or ask the person to sit down. If the situation doesn't improve, the
<br />employee can refer the person to a supervisor or request that a police officer be called to the
<br />scene, if necessary. Employees are not required to continue conversations that include
<br />profanity or threats. In those situations the employee should refer the individual to a
<br />supervisor or inform a caller, as courteously as possible, that the employee is hanging up
<br />and will talk with the caller after the caller has calmed down.
<br />3) Conduct between Employees
<br />Employees shall cooperate with and be courteous to co-workers at all levels. Employees
<br />shall control their tempers and refrain from engaging in violent behavior, discriminatory
<br />behavior, or offensive behaviors. Employees shall act professionally and courteously when
<br />interacting with their coworkers. Inappropriate behavior prohibited by this policy
<br />includes, but is not limited to: slamming doors, pounding tables, kicking furniture,
<br />unwanted and/or unwarranted physical contact of any nature, including "roughhousing"
<br />such as punching in the arm, pinching, arm twisting, etc., and other, similar unwanted
<br />conduct, making threats, berating or belittling others, speaking in raised voices, using
<br />coarse, violent or profane language or gestures, refusing to speak or respond when spoken
<br />to, and refusing to provide assistance when requested.
<br />Employees shall treat each other with respect. They shall refrain from making remarks
<br />about or using nicknames for other employees that are disparaging or based on a personal
<br />characteristic; producing cartoons or other graphics displaying other employees in an
<br />unfavorable light; communicating threatening or disparaging remarks via any medium
<br />(voice, e-mail, notes, etc.); engaging in unwanted horseplay or practical jokes; failing to
<br />relay written, verbal or telephone messages;
<br />4) Reporting Inappropriate Workplace Behaviors
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