Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Non-Discrimination Policy

It is the policy of the City of Santa Cruz to maintain and promote a working environment free from discrimination and harassment; and to provide all current and prospective employees with equal opportunity in employment regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, disability, medical condition, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), physical characteristics, marital status, age, sexual orientation, organizational affiliation or veteran status.

This policy is promulgated in recognition of the fact that discrimination and harassment of the type prohibited by this policy, if allowed to exist, not only violates Federal, State and Municipal law but also serves to undermine employee integrity, create low employee morale, reduce employee productivity and cause skilled and valuable workers to leave their City employment. All of this, in turn, is detrimental to the general health and welfare of the community, which depends upon a highly motivated and skilled body of City employees to deliver essential Municipal services.

The City Council acknowledges and understands that in order to implement a non-discrimination/non-harassment policy, it is essential that all persons who witness or experience discrimination or harassment report that discrimination or harassment immediately in order to facilitate early, effective, efficient and impartial investigation and intervention by the City. Accordingly, any retaliation against a person for filing a discrimination or harassment complaint, reporting discrimination or harassment which he or she has witnessed or assisting in a discrimination or harassment investigation is strictly prohibited. Employees found to have participated in retaliatory action in contravention of this policy shall, therefore, be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.

In implementing the policy, the rights of free speech and association shall be accommodated in a manner consistent with applicable Federal and State law and in a manner consistent with the intent of the policy.