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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
<br /> Any employee who believes that another City employee or elected official has engaged in
<br /> behavior prohibited by this policy is encouraged to address the situation as described in
<br /> paragraphs (a), (b), and (c)below. However, if the alleged conduct involves violent
<br /> behavior, discriminatory behavior, or harassment prohibited by City policy, the employee is
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