Resolving Harassment in the Workplace
What is the mission of the Grievance Panel?
The Grievance Panel is responsible for examining a formal complaint of harassment that is submitted by a person who feels that he or she has been subjected to harassment by an individual or group of individuals. A formal complaint is a report in writing submitted to the Grievance Panel outlining the description of the specific act(s) or conduct that are the basis of the harassment allegation.
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Who does the Grievance Panel report to?
The Grievance Panel is an independent entity that consists of a Chairperson, three alternate chairpersons and 24 members, chosen by the Director and the PAHO/AMRO Staff Association. It does not have a reporting relationship to anyone in PAHO.
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What is the level of authority of the Grievance Panel?
The Grievance Panel does not have any decision making authority. Rather, its responsibility is limited to making findings of fact, conclusions and recommendations on each harassment complaint that it reviews.
As part of its mandate, the Grievance Panel will first explore with the person filing the complaint and the alleged offender whether mediation is a viable option. If not, or if the harassment complaint is not resolved through mediation, the case will be reviewed by a three member panel which will submit its findings of fact, conclusions and recommendations to HRM for decision (or to AM if HRM has a conflict of interest).
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What is the level of confidentiality of the Grievance Panel?
The Grievance Panel may request any information or documentation which is relevant to a case, and is under an obligation to maintain the confidentiality of the complaints and all related documents and information. Such documents and information may only be disclosed or released to those with a legitimate need to know.
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Who can use the services of the Grievance Panel?
Any person who works in a PAHO workplace, regardless of the type or duration of the appointment, can file a harassment complaint within 90 calendar days from the date when the alleged harassment occurred.
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When should you contact the Grievance Panel?
You should contact the Grievance Panel if you are considering filing a formal complaint of harassment because you believe that you have been subjected to improper and offensive conduct by an individual or group of individuals in the workplace. A guide for determining what constitutes harassment (including its definition and examples), and the procedures for filing a formal harassment complaint are outlined in Sections V and VII (B) and the corresponding Appendix of the
PAHO Policy on the Prevention and Resolution of Harassment in the Workplace.
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How can the Grievance Panel be contacted?
For further information, please contact the Grievance Panel Chairperson or the Secretary:
The Chairperson and the Secretary can be contacted:
A list of current members can be obtained directly from the Secretary of the Grievance Panel.
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