4030 BP - Nondiscrimination in Employment

Personnel                                                                                         
Board  Policy No. 4030
Policy Revised: Nov. 2, 2023

NONDISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT


The Governing Board is determined to provide district employees, interns, volunteers, and job applicants a safe, positive environment where they are assured of full and equal employment access and opportunities, protection from harassment or intimidation, and freedom from any fear of reprisal or retribution for asserting their employment rights in accordance with law. This policy shall apply to all district employees and, to the extent required by law, to interns, volunteers, job applicants and persons who contracted with the district to provide services, as applicable.

No district employee shall be discriminated against or harassed by any coworker, supervisor, manager, or other person with whom the employee comes in contact in the course of employment, on the basis of the employee's actual or perceived race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, or sexual orientation or his/her association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

Employers are also prohibited from discrimination against employees or job applicants on the basis of reproductive health decisionmaking, defined as a person's decision to use or access a particular drug, device, product, or medical service for reproductive health. (Government Code 12926, 12940)
(cf. 0410 - Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities)

The district shall not inquire into any employee’s immigration status nor discriminate against an employee on the basis of immigration status, unless there is clear and convincing evidence that it is necessary to do so in order to comply with federal immigration law. (2 CCR 11028)

Discrimination in employment based on the characteristics listed above is prohibited in all areas of employment and in all employment-related practices, including the following:

1. Discrimination in hiring, compensation, terms, conditions, and other privileges of
employment

2. Taking of an adverse employment action, such as termination or the denial of
employment, promotion, job assignment, or training

3. Unwelcome conduct, whether verbal, physical, or visual, that is so severe or pervasive as to adversely affect an employee's employment opportunities, or that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment

4. Actions and practices identified as unlawful or discriminatory pursuant to Government Code 12940 or 2 CCR 11066-11086, such as:
 
a. Sex discrimination based on an employee's pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or any related medical condition or on an employee's gender, gender expression, or gender identity, including transgender status (cf.4119.1/4219.11/4319.11 - Sexual Harassment)

 b. Religious creed discrimination based on an employee's religious belief or observance, including his/her religious dress or grooming practices, or based on the district's failure or refusal to use reasonable means to accommodate an employee's religious belief, observance, or practice which conflicts with an employment requirement.

 c. Requirement for a medical or psychological examination of a job applicant, or an inquiry into whether a job applicant has a mental or physical disability or a medical condition or as to the severity of any such disability or condition, without the showing of a job-related need or business necessity
 
d. Failure to make reasonable accommodation for the known physical or mental disability of an employee or to engage in a timely, good faith, interactive process with an employee,

e. Requiring an applicant or employee to disclose information relating to the employee's reproductive health decisionmaking

The Board also prohibits retaliation against any district employee who opposes any discriminatory employment practice by the district or its employees, agents, or representatives or who complains, testifies, assists, or in any way participates in the district's complaint process pursuant to this policy. No employee who requests an accommodation for any protected characteristic listed in this policy shall be subjected to any punishment or sanction, regardless of whether the request was granted.
(Government Code12940; 2 CCR 11028)

No employee shall, in exchange for a raise or bonus or as a condition of employment or continued employment, be required to sign a release of the employee's claim or right to file a claim against the district or a nondisparagement agreement or other document that has the purpose or effect of preventing the employee from disclosing information about harassment, discrimination, or other unlawful acts in the workplace, including any conduct that the employee has reasonable cause to believe is unlawful. (Government Code 12964.5)

Complaints concerning employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation shall immediately be investigated in accordance with procedures specified in the accompanying administrative regulation.

Any supervisory or management employee who observes or has knowledge of an incident of prohibited discrimination or harassment, including harassment of an employee by a nonemployee, shall report the incident to the Superintendent or designated district coordinator as soon as practical after the incident. All other employees are encouraged to report such incidents to their supervisor immediately.

The Superintendent or designee shall use all appropriate means to reinforce the district's nondiscrimination policy. He/she shall provide training and information to employees about how to recognize harassment, discrimination, or other related conduct, how to respond appropriately, and components of the district's policies and regulations regarding discrimination. The Superintendent or designee shall regularly review the district's employment practices and, as necessary, shall take action to ensure district compliance with the nondiscrimination laws.

The district shall maintain and preserve all applications, personnel, membership, or employment referral records and files for at least four years after the records are initially created or received or, for an applicant or a terminated employee, for four years after the date the employment action was taken. However, when the district is notified that a complaint has been filed with the California Civil Rights Department, records related to the employee involved shall be maintained and preserved until the later of the first date after the time for filing a civil action has expired or the first date after the complaint has been fully and finally disposed of and all administrative proceedings, civil actions, appeals, or related proceedings have been terminated. (Government Code 12946)

Any district employee who engages in prohibited discrimination, harassment, or retaliation or who aids, abets, incites, compels, or coerces another to engage or attempt to engage in such behavior in violation of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.
(cf. 4118 - Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action)
(cf. 4218 - Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action)

Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
200-262.4 Prohibition of discrimination
CIVIL CODE
51.7 Freedom from violence or intimidation
GOVERNMENT CODE
11135 Unlawful discrimination
11138 Rules and regulations
12900-12996 Fair Employment and Housing Act
PENAL CODE
422.56 Definitions, hate crimes
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 2
11006-11086 Discrimination in employment
11013 Recordkeeping
11019 Terms, conditions and privileges of employment
11023 Harassment and discrimination prevention and correction
11024 Sexual harassment training and education
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
4900-4965 Nondiscrimination in elementary and secondary education programs
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
1681-1688 Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 29
621-634 Age Discrimination in Employment Act
794 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 42
2000d-2000d-7 Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended
2000e-2000e-17 Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended
2000ff-2000ff-11 Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008
2000h-2-2000h-6 Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
6101-6107 Age discrimination in federally assisted programs
12101-12213 Americans with Disabilities Act
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 28
35.101-35.190 Americans with Disabilities Act
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 34
100.6 Compliance information
104.7 Designation of responsible employee for Section 504
104.8 Notice
106.8 Designation of responsible employee and adoption of grievance procedures
106.9 Dissemination of policy
110.1-110.39 Nondiscrimination on the basis of age 

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