Frequently Asked Questions

The Workplace Violence Prevention and Response program (WVPR) helps Impacted Persons (IP) through crisis intervention, referrals, and emotional support using local and national resources. All NOAA employees, contractors, and affiliates may receive support from WVPR. Victim Advocate Liaisons (VAL), with specialized training, can help facilitate live, confidential, one-on-one services and support regardless of the place or time of an occurrence, even if an incident occurs outside of the workplace or is unrelated to work.

Members of NOAA’s workforce who experience SEXUAL ASSAULT or SEXUAL HARASSMENT (SASH) have two reporting options:

A Restricted Report is for the Impacted Person (IP) who reports SASH directly to the WVPR prior to reporting to a supervisor, law enforcement or complaint channels (see below). The purpose of a restricted reporting is to access confidential support and referral services through WVPR without leadership involvement or an investigation. An IP may convert a Restricted Report to an Unrestricted Report at any time.

An Unrestricted Report is for the IP who elects to have the incident investigated or after disclosures have been made to a supervisor, law enforcement or complaint channels (see below). The IP is also entitled to support and referral services through WVPR. An unrestricted report may not be converted to a Restricted Report at any time.

To preserve both reporting options, it is recommended the IP consult with WVPR prior to making a reporting decision, as WVPR is the only entity that can receive a Restricted Report. Contact noaa.victimservices@noaa.gov or your offsite linkRegional Coordinator offsite link.

IPs may report to a supervisor or request an investigation or inquiry through the following complaint channels:

The offsite linkOffice of Human Capital Services offsite link manages NOAA’s DAO 202-955 process, which is designed to provide an expedited inquiry for reviewing allegations of harassment prohibited by Federal law (i.e., sex, race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability or reprisal), terminating incidents of harassment, and taking disciplinary actions as appropriate. Report prohibited harassment to the DAO 202-955 Program Management Office (PMO) at DAO-955.OHCS@noaa.gov

The offsite linkOffice of Inclusion and Civil Rights offsite link (OICR) handles equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaints for NOAA employees and applicants who feel they have been subject to discrimination. Harassment, unwelcome conduct that is based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

If you feel you have been subjected to harassment and wish to file an EEO complaint, please contact OICR at :

• 301-713-0500 (main)

• 800-452-6728 (toll free)

• email noaa.oicr@noaa.gov.

IPs may report through both channels concurrently as each offers unique opportunities for resolution (A 955 inquiry may result in disciplinary action against the offender, whereas EEO offers individual remedy for the IP).

WVPR staff and Victim Advocate Liaisons will do everything to preserve confidentiality however there are exceptions when disclosure of information from an IP’s record may be necessary. The following are such exceptions :

Danger to self or others. The Victim Advocate Liaison or WVPR Regional Coordinator must disclose information to the appropriate agencies and/or personnel if an IP indicates that they plan to hurt themselves or another person. This may include Office of Human Capital Services (OHCS), Workforce Relations Division (WRD), Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Office of Inclusion and Civil Rights (OICR).

Child abuse or neglect. As a mandated reporter, Victim Advocate Liaison’s and WVPR Regional Coordinators must report any suspected or alleged child abuse or neglect to the state’s child protective service agency.

Need to know. Information may be disclosed to appropriate internal NOAA agencies and only those who are acting in an official capacity.

We all have a role in creating safe workplaces. Research shows that in work environments where respect and inclusion are the norms, sexual assault and sexual harassment are less frequent. We can all uphold an environment of prevention by setting an expectation of shared dignity and respect, maintaining professionalism, and intervening when we witness problematic behavior. Here are three approaches you might use to address a situation:

Direct - Confronting the issue directly by “calling out” the behavior and demanding it stop.

Distract - Creating a disruption that changes the dynamic without directly confronting those involved. This may include asking an unrelated question, requesting assistance from one of the parties involved, etc.

Delegate - Asking help from someone better equipped to handle the situation. This may include involving a supervisor or simply asking someone who is more assertive to intervene.

NOAA employees interested in volunteering to become a Victim Advocate Liaison should visit our intranet site offsite link for more information.