ST. PAUL, MN – Minnesota Management and Budget
today released a new report on sexual harassment prevention policy and procedures within the executive branch of Minnesota’s state government workforce. The following is a statement from Governor Mark Dayton.
“I thank Commissioner Frans and the members of this Task Force for their thorough work on this very important issue. We must make every possible effort to ensure that the State of Minnesota’s Executive Branch offers safe, respectful, and welcoming environments for all state employees and the Minnesotans we serve.
“The prohibition of workplace sexual harassment has been explicitly stated by the State’s Executive Branch through its ‘Sexual Harassment Prohibited Policy,’ first issued in 1996. It was substantially strengthened in February 2016, reflecting this Administration’s priority to establish and enforce safe workplace environments, free of sexual and other improper harassments.
“These findings instruct that we must do even more to improve the quality of the State’s workplaces and to ensure that sexual harassment violations are treated consistently across all agencies. All State employees must be provided with the information, support, and protections they need to report acts of sexual harassment in the workplace.
“Acting upon this Report’s recommendations, I will propose legislation this Session to establish a central administrative body within the Executive Branch, responsible for ensuring even stronger protections against sexual harassment, more immediate responses to complaints, and more consistent consequences for offenders. This new body will provide greater clarity and support for victims of not only sexual harassment, but also race- or gender-based discrimination, and all other forms of harassment within our workplaces.”
