Legislative leaders tighten sexual harassment policy following survey

Findings from a recent survey of those who work at the state Capitol showing that nearly a quarter of respondents have experienced sexual harassment has spurred legislative leaders to expand the scope of the General Assembly’s sexual harassment policy and tighten some of its protocols.

The survey, which gathered anonymous responses from a total of 593 staff, lawmakers, lobbyists and others who work at the Capitol and Legislative Office Building, also found that in about 15 percent of those cases, the harasser was a lawmaker.

Connecticut’s legislative leaders released a statement Friday saying they believe the updated policy “makes it clear that the General Assembly does not tolerate sexual harassment in any form.”

The new policy, announced Friday by legislative leaders and the Office of Legislative Management, expands the scope of its guidelines for General Assembly employees when they are off the Capitol grounds, including at “legislative-sponsored events, professional meetings or seminars, and those activities that involve legislative business.”

The revised policy also expands the complaint procedure, providing details on investigating authorities’ responsibilities and information guiding the submission of formal or informal complaints. The revamped policy also increases sexual harassment prevention training requirements for lawmakers and legislative employees.

The survey asked a range of questions regarding two main forms of sexual harassment — hostile work environment sexual harassment and quid pro quo sexual harassment.

Hostile work environment sexual harassment involves unwanted sexual conduct including offensive sexual pictures, sexual jokes, sexual comments and unwanted sexual contact or touching.

Twenty-two percent, or 131 of the 591 people who responded, said they have experienced hostile work environment sexual harassment at the Connecticut General Assembly complex. Of the respondents, 460 said they had not experienced that kind of harassment. Eighty-six people said the perpetrator of that harassment was a legislator, and 64 said it was legislative staff.

Quid pro quo sexual harassment occurs when those in higher authority positions offer job-related benefits or threaten work-related consequences in exchange for any kind of sexual conduct.

Seventeen of the 591 respondents — or 2.88 percent — said they had experienced quid pro quo sexual harassment. When asked about who the perpetrator was, 15 respondents said it was a legislator, and six said it was a senior caucus staff.

In a question about why those who experienced sexual harassment did not report it, 82 of 555 respondents said it was due to a belief nothing will be done, while another 66 people cited fear of retaliation.

“Our goal is to provide a work environment in which instances of harassment can be reported without fear of retaliation and where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, and free from sexual harassment, both subtle and overt,” the statement by legislative leaders said.

Clarice Silber is a reporter for The Connecticut Mirror (www. ctmirror.org). Copyright 2018 © The Connecticut Mirror. csilber@ctmirror.org