What to Include in the Discrimination and Harassment Section of a FedEx Ground Employee Handbook
What to Include in the Discrimination and Harassment Section of Your Employee Handbook
The Discrimination and Harassment section reinforces your company’s commitment to a safe, respectful, and legally compliant workplace. This section should clearly outline your zero-tolerance stance, reporting procedures, and protections against retaliation.
1. State Your Compliance and Zero-Tolerance Policy
Affirm your company’s compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practice laws. Emphasize that your workplace will not tolerate any form of illegal or unfair discrimination or harassment.
Consider creating dedicated subsections for specific concerns, such as Sexual Harassment, to provide extra clarity and emphasis.
2. Define Reporting Procedures
Provide employees with clear instructions on how to report concerns:
Identify the primary contact person or department for complaints
Offer an alternative contact if an employee is uncomfortable approaching their direct supervisor
Assure employees that reports will be handled promptly and confidentially
3. Include a Strong Anti-Retaliation Policy
Clearly state that retaliation is strictly prohibited. Employees must be protected from adverse actions if they report discrimination or harassment in good faith.
Explain how employees can escalate concerns if they believe retaliation has occurred.
Pro Tip: Keep this section concise and easy to understand, while linking to more detailed policies or legal resources if needed. A well-written policy demonstrates that you take these issues seriously and have the processes in place to address them quickly.
Keep in mind: Laws can vary widely by state. Be sure to check your local requirements when writing this section.
Want to see an example? Download our free sample discrimination/harassment section of the FedEx Ground Employee Handbook.
