[G]ov. Phil Scott signed an executive order last week updating the code of ethics for the executive branch of Vermont state government, requiring his appointees to prevent workplace sexual harassment among other changes.
The order follows in the wake of numerous revelations this year about widespread workplace sexual harassment in the public and private sector and an apparent shift in attitudes toward sexual misconduct.
The Executive Code of Ethics now says the governor’s appointees will “promote a workplace that is free from sexual harassment, or inappropriate personal relationships, and shall take quick and effective action to ensure that sexual harassment does not occur or persist.” Scott’s order also requires appointees and their deputies to participate in sexual harassment and government ethics training annually.
Other updates direct appointees and their deputies to “act as examples and set a civil and respectful tone,” manage their electronic communications to comply with state public records law and promote access, and pay their state and local taxes on time. The code already required timely payment of federal taxes.
The order further updates the ethics code to reflect additional reporting requirements and restrictions on lobbying from Act 79, a law passed earlier this year establishing the State Ethics Commission and setting standards for ethical conduct.
While an update to the code of ethics was already in the works, Scott spokeswoman Rebecca Kelley said the language around sexual harassment was added “in recognition of the prevalence and seriousness of the issue nationwide.”
At a news conference Thursday, Scott called on Republicans to follow suit when it comes to pressuring elected officials in their own party accused of sexual misconduct to resign, as Democrats have done in several high-profile instances recently.
“It shouldn’t be tolerated at any level, and we certainly wouldn’t tolerate it here in this state,” Scott said.
“We need more faith and trust in our government leaders, our politicians — leaders in general. We need better role models, and I’m extremely disappointed in their approach to this point,” the governor added.
Scott’s administration is also undertaking a wider review of sexual harassment awareness and prevention training across state government, said Human Resources Commissioner Beth Fastiggi.
That review found the state has a strong sexual harassment prevention and reporting policy, but identified training as an area where Vermont could improve, she said.
The state plans to increase the use of in-person training with updated curriculum. That updated curriculum will be offered to Human Resources staff Friday, and the governor’s extended Cabinet will take the class Dec. 28, Fastiggi said.
Fastiggi said in-person training is preferable to the online class some state employees take currently, because it allows for greater discussion and question asking, and increases focus.
Human Resources is still reviewing which state employees will be required to take the in-person training, as some departments, including many within the Agency of Human Services, already require their own sexual harassment prevention and awareness training.
Fastiggi said the administration’s intent is to see that all of the roughly 8,000 executive branch employees of state government undergo some type of training on workplace sexual harassment prevention by the end of 2018.
