POLICY STATEMENT

The Blue Ridge Mountain Volunteer Fire Company will not tolerate and shall not discriminate against any person who is seeking membership to the fire company based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, or any other reason not listed but deemed to be discriminatory.

Members should be considerate of other members by refraining from the use of obscene language, tasteless jokes, off color comments, racial slurs, and other such remarks that may be offensive to our members. Members should also be cognizant of their remarks when guests, families, and visitors are present in the station.

Discrimination is forbidden by Federal law and it is incumbent upon the fire company to discourage any form of discrimination and conduct that would be offensive to our fellow members. The mission of the fire company is providing fire and EMS protection to the citizens of our community. This is a team effort based on the contributions and talents from all of our members. We encourage people from all segments of our community to join us in fulfilling our mission.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Sexual harassment and allegations thereof are a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) guidelines define sexual harassment as follows:

Unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct oŁ a sexual nature when:

Submission to such conduct by an individual is made explicitly a term or condition of employment;

Submission to, or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for an employment decision;

And such conduct has the purpose or affect to interfere with an individual's work performance, or creates a hostile or intimidating environment.

When an unwanted unwelcome, or unsolicited sexual conduct is imposed on a person who regards it as offensive or undesirable, it is sexual harassment. When a person communicates that the conduct is unwelcome, it becomes illegal. Even if the conduct is implicit in nature, hidden in subtlety or innuendo, as long as it is unwelcome, it is unlawful.

Sexual harassment is not an expression of sexual desire or sexuality, but a problem of inappropriate use of power. The majority of complaints involve subtle forms of harassment, sexual remarks, off hand comments and mental groping disguised as social interactions. These subtle infringements are the hardest to detect and accept as sexual harassment, but are just as illegal.

The guidelines also cite hostile environment harassment as illegal. Hostile environment harassment is any lewd sexual conduct, pictures, words, and/or touching that interferes with a person's job performance or creates an intimidating offensive working environment even if there is no occurrences of tangible or economic loss.

These guidelines are provided as a reference, so all members are aware of the elements of sexual harassment. All members should be aware of these guidelines and take the necessary steps to avoid/eliminate sexual harassment in the fire company.

COMPLAINT OF DISCRIMINATION

Any member may report an alleged incident of discrimination to any member of the Board of Directors or a Fire Line Officer. The Chief, Ambulance Chief and President of the fire company will be notified and an investigation into the matter will be conducted 

Confirmed incidents of discrimination or harassment will not be tolerated and disciplinary action will be taken. The President, Chief and /or Ambulance Chief may handle the investigation or delegate that responsibility. The authority chosen to investigate the incident will determine the appropriate discipline.

Although the complaint of discrimination does not need to be made in writing, members are encouraged to document the event providing copies to the Chief, Ambulance Chief and President.

Should the member who feels they have been discriminated against choose not to pursue the matter, then no further action will be taken. Their decision should be documented, witnessed by more than one official, and placed in the members file.