What is Piedmont's stance on harassment and retaliation?

• A. Harassment is allowed with warning
• B. Retaliation is encouraged if issues persist
• C. Only supervisors can report harassment
• D. Zero tolerance; report any harassment or retaliation promptly through the designated channels

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is that harassment and retaliation are not tolerated and must be addressed quickly through formal channels. A zero-tolerance stance means any inappropriate behavior or retaliation is taken seriously, investigated, and acted upon promptly, with clear processes in place to protect the reporter and to hold the responsible party accountable. The designated reporting channels—such as human resources, an ethics hotline, or a compliant reporting system—provide a safe, structured way for employees to raise concerns without fear of retaliation.

This approach aligns with protecting all staff and maintaining a respectful workplace. Options that allow harassment with a warning would let abusive behavior continue, and encouraging retaliation undermines employee safety and rights. Limiting reporting to supervisors places an unfair burden on a subset of staff and can silence others who experience or witness misconduct.