Emailed to all employees by Laboratory Director on March 12, 2018:
Dear colleagues,
The University of California and LBNL are committed to creating and maintaining a community where all individuals can work and learn together in an atmosphere free of sexual harassment and sexual violence. The sexual harassment of employees, including sexual violence, interferes with their right to work in a safe environment, and is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX of the Education Act.
The shared LBNL and UC Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment prohibits sexual violence, including sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking. The Policy also prohibits sexual harassment and other specific forms of sexual misconduct. The Policy applies broadly and protects all staff, as well as third parties involved in LBNL and UC associated programs or activities. I urge you to read the Policy.
It is important that all members of our community act as active bystanders to prevent sexual harassment and sexual violence in our community. A critical component of this is fulfilling the Policy’s Responsible Employee reporting obligation. Any employee who is not expressly defined as a “Confidential Resource” pursuant to the Policy is a Responsible Employee who must inform the LBNL Title IX officer whenever, in the course of their work, they become aware that a staff member has experienced sexual harassment or sexual violence. Managers, supervisors, faculty, and human resources administrators have a broader obligation, and must inform the Title IX officer when they get a report of sexual harassment or sexual violence from a colleague, a subordinate or anyone else affiliated with the University. Reporting to the Title IX officer ensures that those affected by sexual harassment and sexual violence can learn about their rights and resources and make an informed choice about how to proceed.
A Responsible Employee fulfills their obligation by contacting our LBNL Title IX officer Leticia Ericson. She can be reached via email at lericson@lbl.gov, in person at Building 90, Room 1079, or by calling 510-486-7635. The Responsible Employee will provide whatever information they have about the incident, including the names and contact information of any individuals involved.
A Responsible Employee should not conduct any investigation and should not share the information with anyone other than the Title IX officer. More information about the Responsible Employee obligation and what happens after you fulfill the obligation can be found here: http://sexualviolence.universityofcalifornia.edu/faq/responsible-employee.html
The Policy prohibits retaliation against anyone who reports sexual harassment or sexual violence to the Title IX office, and anyone who assists the Title IX office with responding to such a report.
There are confidential resources available on the UC Berkeley campus for LBNL staff. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides the confidential support to employees affected by sexual harassment or sexual violence. Contact the EAP office by emailing, employeeassistance@berkeley.edu, in person at the Tang Center Room 3100, or by phone at 510-643-7754.
Anyone seeking help can also contact the UC Police Department, should you choose to report behavior for a possible criminal investigation. UC Police may be contacted at (510) 642-6760 or at http://police@berkeley.edu. You may also contact UCPD Survivor Resource Specialist, Claudia Archer, for personal assistance through the reporting process. She may be reached at (510) 642-9113 or by email at ccp@berkeley.edu. Alternatively, crimes may also be reported to the Berkeley Police Department at (510) 981-5735 or at http://ci.berkeley.ea.us/Police/. Of course, if you ever have immediate concerns about your physical safety, please call 9-1-1.
Again, if you have any questions or concerns regarding the Policy or related procedures, requirements, or prevention training, please contact Leticia Ericson at the LBNL Title IX Office at 510-486-7635 or lericson@lbl.gov.
Creating a community free of sexual violence and sexual harassment requires an ongoing commitment from everyone. Please join me in reaffirming this commitment.
Best regards,
Mike
Michael Witherell
Laboratory Director
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Scheduler: Ms. Jo Dee Widmayer <jdwidmayer@lbl.gov>
