USDA is dedicated to ensuring a workplace free of all forms of harassment and discrimination, a workplace where we all can personally and professionally thrive while serving the American public. AMS’ Anti-Harassment Program provides an avenue to report and address harassing, bullying, intimidating or other disruptive behavior concerning AMS employees in their work relationship with Federal employees, non-Federal employees, and the public, and track the reports. The AMS Anti-Harassment Coordinators receive, assess, and address all reports or allegations of harassment involving AMS employees, contractors, volunteers or other personnel under a formal partnership agreement performing work on behalf of AMS. This includes allegations made against AMS employees or partners by any other person as well as allegations made by AMS employees or partners against any other person, regardless of their relationship with AMS.
What is Harassment?
Workplace harassment is defined broadly by Departmental Regulation 4200-003, Anti-Harassment Program, as “Any form of unwelcome, persistent, and unsolicited verbal, non-verbal, written, or physical conduct that is offensive and could alter the affected individual’s terms and conditions of employment. It includes conduct intended to torment or cause fear for one’s personal safety. This includes but is not limited to any unwelcome or unwanted conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or an aversion toward another person on the basis of any characteristic protected by law, which includes an individual’s race, color, sex, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, retaliation for previous Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) activity, genetic information or other personal characteristic protected by law.”
Examples of harassing behaviors:
- Threatening that rejection of sexual overtures will affect appointments, promotions, transfers, or evaluations or affect any other employment-related actions
- Making sexually suggestive comments or gestures, including offensive comments, jokes, or suggestions about an employee’s gender or displaying nude or sexually suggestive objects, pictures, images, or cartoons
- Belittling persons based on protected characteristics, including repeated jokes, teasing, mimicking, or commenting on an individual’s protected characteristic
- Retaliating against an employee who raises a harassment allegation
- Bullying, intimidating, or threatening behavior
Reporting Harassment
Employees are encouraged to report harassment as soon as possible. Report harassment to the AMS Anti-Harassment Coordinators using one of the following methods. The online form allows you to report harassment anonymously, if you so choose. Reporting anonymously may leave out key details and could limit the Anti-Harassment Coordinators’ ability to conduct follow-up action to address the allegation.
- Email: AMS.StopHarassment@usda.gov
- Online form: AMS Report of Harassment
Employees may also report harassment to a management official or servicing Employee/Labor Relations Specialist.
When managers and supervisors become aware of or receive a reported allegation of harassment, they must report to AMS Anti-Harassment Coordinators within 1 business day for all reports of sexual assault or sexual harassment, or 3 business days for all other reports of non-sexual harassment or bullying.
The AMS Anti-Harassment Coordinators will keep all information obtained regarding allegations of harassing behavior confidential and disclose information only on a need-to-know basis. This includes the identities of affected individuals, reporting individuals, witnesses, and individuals against whom allegations are made.
Anyone, including USDA employees, applicants for employment, contractors, customers, volunteers, or others experiencing potential discrimination in hiring, employment, or program delivery may contact the AMS Office of Civil Rights.