Applies to uniformed ranks of the Fire Department
This rule affects uniformed ranks of the Fire Department. It doesn't apply to "miscellaneous" employees, uniformed ranks of the Police Department, or "service-critical" MTA workers. Learn about the other rules that apply to the Fire Department.
Rule 303
Equal Employment
Applicability: Rule 303 shall apply to all classes of the Uniformed Ranks of the San Francisco Fire Department.
Sec. 303.1 Policies for Equal Employment Opportunities
Sec. 303.2 Equal Employment
Sec. 303.3 Discrimination Complaints
Sec. 303.4 Authority to Override Civil Service Rules to Effectuate a Discrimination Remedy
Rule 303
Equal Employment
Applicability: Rule 303 shall apply to all classes of the Uniformed Ranks of the San Francisco Fire Department.
Sec. 303.1 Policies for Equal Employment Opportunities
303.1.1 Equal Employment
It is the policy of the Civil Service Commission of the City and County of San Francisco that all persons shall have equal opportunity in employment; that selection of employees to positions in the City and County be made on the basis of merit; and that continuing programs be maintained to afford equal employment opportunities at all levels. Vigorous enforcement of the laws against discrimination shall be carried out at every level of each department. All persons shall have equal access to employment and the terms, conditions, and privileges of employment within the City and County, limited only by their ability to do the job.
303.1.2 No person shall be appointed, reduced, removed, or in any way favored or discriminated against in employment or opportunity for employment because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, age, religion, creed, national origin, disability, ancestry, marital status, parental status, domestic partner status, medical condition (cancer-related), ethnicity or the conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), HIV, and AIDS-related conditions or other non-merit factors or any other category provided by ordinance.
303.1.3 Language Diversity Policy
It is the policy of the Civil Service Commission that an employee's use of a language other than English is not only an asset in the provision of public services but, with few exceptions, such as business necessity, is a legally protected right.
303.1.4 Employment of Persons with AIDS, HIV, and AIDS-related conditions
Departments, agencies, boards, and commissions of the City and
303.1.5 Prohibition of Sexual Harassment
It is the policy of the Civil Service Commission, consistent with Federal, State and local laws, rules and official policies that sexual harassment of City employees and applicants for employment is prohibited and will not be tolerated.
303.1.6 Prohibition of Unlawful Workplace Harassment
It is the policy of the City and County of San Francisco that each official, employee, and agent acting in official capacity, will treat all persons equally and respectfully, and will refrain from unlawful workplace harassment in accordance with Federal, State and local laws, rules and official policies.
303.1.7 Employment of Persons with Disabilities
In accordance with the Federal, State and local laws, it is the policy of the Civil Service Commission to provide equal access for individuals with disabilities in all areas of employment. No disabled person shall be denied employment or any other term, condition, or privilege of employment based upon disability or the need for a reasonable accommodation, so long as the accommodation does not result in undue hardship on the operations of the department or the City and
303.1.8 Prohibition of Retaliation
It shall be a violation of this Rule to discriminate against, retaliate against, or harass any employee or applicant because such employee or applicant has complained of or opposed any discriminatory practice prohibited under this Rule or has made a complaint, testified, supplied evidence, assisted, or participated in any manner in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this Rule.
Sec. 303.2 Equal Employment
303.2.1 The Department of Human Resources shall annually prepare an analysis of the work force.
303.2.2 The City shall maintain records of its work force composition by race, sex, ethnicity, and classification (job code). These records shall also reflect new employments, promotions, transfers, and separations; and shall be reported to Federal, State and local agencies as required.
Sec. 303.2 Equal Employment Opportunity Analysis (cont.)
303.2.2 (cont.)
Individual employee names shall remain a confidential part of these records. Non-confidential elements of these records shall be made available for public review upon request.
303.2.3 From the foregoing records, the Department of Human Resources staff shall prepare and report to the Civil Service Commission every five (5) years with an analysis of the work force to determine whether percentages of sex, race, or ethnic groups in occupational categories are substantially similar to the percentages of those groups available in the work force in the relevant job market who possess the basic job-related qualifications.
303.2.4 For each year thereafter until the next five-year report, the Department of Human Resources staff shall report back to the Civil Service Commission on those City classes identified in the last five-year report as having lower percentages of sex, race or ethnic groups than those occupational categories in the relevant job market.
303.2.5 Compliance with Reporting Requirements
Nothing in these Rules shall prohibit compliance with Federal or State reporting requirements.
Sec. 303.3 Discrimination Complaints
303.3.1 Purpose
Any employee or applicant may file a complaint alleging that he or she has been discriminated against as a result of any employment decision made by any agency, department, or commission of the City and County of San Francisco on the basis of any protected category identified in Section 303.1.2 of this Rule. Any employee or applicant may file a complaint alleging that he or she has been retaliated against in violation of this Rule and any such complaint shall be filed and processed in the same manner as other discrimination complaints under this Rule.
303.3.2 Responsibility
1) The Human Resources Director shall be responsible for the review and resolution of employment discrimination complaints. The decision of the Human Resources Director shall forthwith be enforced by every employee and officer, unless the decision is appealed to the Commission and reversed.
303.3.2 Responsibility (cont.)
2) The Civil Service Commission shall review and resolve complaints of employment discrimination appealed to it pursuant to procedures established by the Executive Officer in accordance with Rule 304, Section 304.4.5. The determination reached under Commission procedures shall be final and shall be enforced by every employee and officer.
303.3.3 Procedures for Complaints of Discrimination
Pursuant to the provisions of the Charter and this Rule, the Human Resources Director shall promulgate procedures for the review and resolution of employment discrimination complaints.
303.3.4 Appeal of the Human Resources Director’s decision may be filed in writing with the Executive Officer to the Civil Service Commission in accordance with Section 303.3.2 of this Rule.
Sec. 303.4 Authority to Override Civil Service Rules to Effectuate a Discrimination Remedy
303.4.1 Commission Authority
In its discretion, the Commission may depart from any provision of these Rules in order to effectuate an appropriate remedy for discrimination in an appeal heard by the Commission.
303.4.2 Authority of Human Resources Director
The Human Resources Director may not depart from a provision of these Rules in order to effectuate an appropriate remedy for discrimination when reviewing and resolving an employment discrimination complaint, without specific authorization from the Commission in a particular case, following a request for such authority in that case from the Human Resources Director.