§ 154-466. Investigating complaints of prejudicial acts.

(a)

The department of contract compliance and equal employment opportunity (EEO) will have responsibility for investigating complaints, prejudicial acts or incidents. Such complaints will have priority and will be handled in a timely manner.

(b)

Any employee who believes that he or she has been subjected to a prejudicial act or incident should file a written complaint with the department of contract compliance and EEO. This complaint should include a description of the behavior complained of, the date(s) of the behavior, the identity of the person committing the alleged prejudicial acts, a brief description of the circumstances and facts surrounding the events of prejudicial act and the name of any person who may have knowledge of facts or circumstances surrounding the complaint.

(c)

After receiving the complaint, the department of contract compliance and EEO will review the complaint and discuss the allegations with the complainant. Thereafter, the department of contract compliance and EEO will confer privately with the person alleged to have committed the prejudicial act. The department of contract compliance and EEO will invite and require the alleged violator or offender, and will also interview all supervisory personnel, to respond to the complaint in writing. The department of contract compliance and EEO will investigate the facts contained in the complaint, including reviewing all documentary information and interviewing persons who may have knowledge of the complaint, and consulting with legal counsel, if necessary. The investigation will be confidential and all documents received in connection therewith will be considered confidential and privileged to the extent allowed by law. The department of contract compliance and EEO will make a recommendation to the county manager and the department head, regarding whether the complainant has been a victim of a prejudicial act, and any corrective action recommendations. The department of contract compliance and EEO will also advise the complainant of the results of the investigation, as well as other alternatives for redress.

(d)

All complaints shall be filed as soon as possible but no later than 30 days after the occurrence of the alleged prejudicial act or incident. Nothing in this article shall be construed to require a complainant to file a written complaint with the department of contract compliance and EEO prior to or in lieu of seeking redress with other agencies or the courts.

(100-38, 7-10-96)