The City Council on Monday formally established a policy prohibiting sexual harassment in the workplace, bringing the city in compliance with the Illinois Human Rights Act of 1993.
According to Ald. Kenneth G. Geuther, Lockport has had anti-harassment components in its employment handbooks in the past and has required vendors to be in compliance with the state’s Human Rights Act. But now that the policy is formalized, vendors “must follow that policy” or suffer the consequences, he said.
Lockport now requires in advance that any vendors bidding for a municipal project have an anti-harassment policy.
The new policy warns offenders with disciplinary action or termination of employment. In addition it cautions against “false or irresponsible allegations.”
According to an amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act effective July 1, every party to a public contract and every eligible bidder must have a written sexual harassment policy.
