From The New York Post…
Workplace harassment cases on rise on Capitol Hill
By S.A. Miller, Post Correspondent
WASHINGTON—Cases of workplace harassment, hostility and discrimination are on the rise on Capitol Hill, and it costs taxpayers a small fortune, a new congressional report revealed yesterday.
Congress’ working stiffs filed 168 complaints last year, more than double the 87 claims reported just five years ago, according to the annual report by the Office of Compliance (OOC), which is supposed to safeguard congressional workers and facilities.
The most common complaint last year was harassment, with 53 cases accounting for more than 30 percent of all complaints, the report showed.
The legal settlements for bad office behavior have cost taxpayers more than $13.2 million since 1997, including about $246,000 in 2010 and $831,000 in 2009 for harassment, discrimination and retaliation.
The lion’s share of the harassment and hostile-workplace complaints came from employees of the US Capitol Police and the Architect of the Capitol, which oversees maintenance and construction of the buildings.
About a fifth of the complaints—19 percent—came from staffers in House and Senate offices.
“The OOC has felt the impact of a substantial increase in discrimination, harassment and retaliation cases over the past five fiscal years,” Executive Director Tamara Chrisler said in the report.
Chrisler didn’t offer an explanation for the spike in complaints, but she urged lawmakers to do more to make Capitol Hill workers aware of their rights, including following workplace protections mandated for private businesses.
Congress exempts itself from most of the rules it imposes on other agencies and private employers to post notices of worker rights, keep employee records, and protect whistle-blowers.
Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) and Rep. Robert Brady (D-Pa.), chairman and ranking member of the House Administration Committee, issued a joint statement vowing to do more, but didn’t endorse calls for more notices and training.
“As always, we will continue to work together to address the remaining hazards and ensure employees understand their rights,” they said.
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