Women in Fire and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have announced the release of the Fire Service Discrimination and Harassment Toolkit aimed at helping both volunteer and career first responders prevent, identify, and respond to discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the workplace.

Instances of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation can be extremely damaging to individuals and to the entire department. It is crucial that departments adopt proactive measures to identify and respond to these issues, and the Fire Service Discrimination & Harassment Toolkit is designed to be a vital resource for achieving this.

The toolkit has been created to provide members of the fire service with the knowledge and understanding necessary to recognise, confront, or prevent certain unlawful or unwanted employment actions. It fills in gaps in understanding for those who may not know what qualifies as harassment and discrimination or what to do if they or someone they know is the target of these actions.

The information provided includes who is protected by federal employment laws, who can perpetrate harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation in the workplace, what actions can constitute discrimination, harassment, or retaliation in the workplace, and what to do if you suspect that you are being targeted.

Developed in consultation with an attorney specialising in these issues, the toolkit will equip responders with the knowledge they need to create a respectful, harassment-free fire service. However, it is important to note that it does not replace legal advice, and individuals experiencing discrimination or harassment are encouraged to contact an attorney for advisement.

The Fire Service Discrimination & Harassment Toolkit is to be used as a reference resource on the legal framework on discrimination and harassment and is hoped to be used in every officer development training program as well as be a stand ready reference guide on every officer’s bookshelf.

“Every emergency response leader must accept that discrimination and harassment will not be tolerated in the workplace,” said NVFC Maryland Director David Lewis. “This applies equally in workplaces employing paid and/or volunteer personnel. Ignorance of the laws, regulations, and requirements cannot be held as an excuse for not taking appropriate action.

“The Fire Service Discrimination and Harassment Toolkit is an excellent reference resource on the legal framework on discrimination and harassment and should be used in every officer development training program as well as be a stand ready reference guide on every officer’s bookshelf.”

Access the Fire Service Discrimination & Harassment Toolkit here: https://bit.ly/3A79d0W