Mar
30

A workplace where all can thrive

Secretary Bunch offers an update on the Smithsonian’s efforts to create a harassment-free workplace.

Blue pin surrounded by a circle of red pins

In January, we shared our plan to ensure the Smithsonian workplace is free from harassment, and I am pleased to share the progress we have made. 

A hallmark of all effective anti-harassment programs is effective communication and reporting, so that all staff members understand Smithsonian’s policies in this area, know how to report harassment if it occurs, and are aware of the multiple avenues of support available to them.  We are committed to providing effective support resources for you.

Last month, Under Secretary for Administration Ron Cortez led an all-staff meeting* to describe our anti-harassment efforts which are led by the SI Civil Program. We hope those of you who were not able to attend will be able to view the all-staff meeting at your convenience to learn not only about SI Civil but also about the support offered by the Employee Assistance Program and the Ombuds.

In early March, the SI Civil Program published the Fiscal Year 2021 Report on Harassment and Workplace Culture, which presents high-level data on reported incidents of harassment.

Our future plans include:

  • Providing the SI Civil Program with the necessary resources to support staff.  We are currently recruiting three additional positions which we expect to fill by the end of the fiscal year.
  • Creating a simple way to report harassment. The Office of Human Resources and the Office of the Chief Information Officer are working together to launch this effort in June. The user-friendly technology will facilitate anonymous reporting 24/7 online or via phone.  This  phone hotline would have live operators – speaking multiple languages – in addition to online reporting.  Both methods will link to ensure an integrated case management system.
  • Delivering comprehensive mandatory training.  Our colleagues in SI Civil are finalizing this training, which will be available to you via Moodle in late May. They are pairing this with the supervisory training that is beginning in April which will provide supervisors with the tools they need to respond to harassment complaints and maintain a culture of respect in the workplace.
  • Continuing to hold leadership accountable. The Deputy Secretary will be asking each Director to name a senior leader in each organization to champion our anti-harassment efforts.

We are able to launch these efforts over the next few months thanks to the efforts of many, including the Office of Human Resources, AFGE Local 2463, the SI-IDEA committee, the Sparking Change team, participants in the Palmer Leadership Development Program, and all of the many unit-level diversity and inclusion committees. 

I am grateful to all of you, as we each play a critical role in creating the type of workplace where everyone can thrive.

*If you are unable to access the recording at the link above, it also is available here.

Related posts:

Our commitment to a safe workplace Secretary’s Research Prizes for 2021 Enhancing our Anti-Harassment Initiatives COVID-19 SquareCOVID-19 Team Update: Information on Vaccine Mandate and Masking Options

Posted: 30 March 2022
About the Author:

Lonnie G. Bunch III is the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He was the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and is the first historian to be Secretary of the Institution.