Update on Launch of NIH Anti-Harassment Program (October 12, 2018)

Dear NIH Family,

On September17, I provided an update on the initiatives underway to support an NIH workplace free of harassment, including sexual harassment. In that email, I announced a new anti-sexual harassment website that outlines our policies, practices, and initiatives to address sexual harassment at NIH, at the institutions we support, and anywhere NIH research activities take place. This is just one component of a comprehensive outreach effort to NIH staff that will launch the week of October 22.

Look for forthcoming emails from me about a new video outlining NIH’s new policies, procedures, tools, and resources. We will ask all of you to view this six-minute video, which describes a new centralized reporting process managed by the NIH Civil Program. You will also learn about tools to help NIH staff navigate how to report an allegation of harassment, and what to expect from a report. We will also be launching an important NIH survey on workplace climate and harassment in early 2019. Your participation in this survey will be critical for informing harassment interventions and supporting a culture of respect at NIH.

Please know that NIH leadership is working to ensure that the NIH Anti-Harassment Program is implemented successfully throughout our community.

Sincerely yours,

Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.
Director