Accession Number:

AD1173577

Title:

Sexual Harassment: Inconsistent and Incomplete Policies and Information Hinder VA's Efforts to Protect Employees

Descriptive Note:

[Technical Report, Congressional Report]

Corporate Author:

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Brown Barnes, Cindy S

Report Date:

2020-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

78

Abstract:

A federal survey estimates that 22 of Veterans Affairs employees experienced workplace sexual harassment in 2014-2016. VA has policies to prevent and address harassment, but some are inconsistent and incomplete. For example, the person who oversees personnel functions e.g., hiring, promotions is the same person who oversees the complaint process. This can create a conflict of interest. In addition, VA doesnt centrally collect information on all complaintsmaking it harder to direct its resources for preventing and addressing sexual harassment where theyre needed most. Our 7 recommendations address these and other issues we found.

Descriptors:

• personnel management
• congress
• employment
• organizational structure
• social media
• united states government
• law
• department of veterans affairs
• equal employment opportunity
• federal budgets
• gender discrimination
• human resources
• national governments
• sexual assault
• governments
• house of representatives
• sexual harassment

Subject Categories:

• Sociology and Law
• Personnel Management and Labor Relations

Distribution Statement:

[A, Approved For Public Release]