Escaldes‑Engordany council adopts workplace harassment prevention protocol

The Escaldes‑Engordany municipal council has approved a protocol to prevent and respond to workplace harassment, reinforcing the corporation’s commitment to equal treatment, non‑discrimination and the protection of staff rights. The measure implements Article 53 of Law 6/2022 of 31 March, which requires public administrations to adopt specific mechanisms to prevent and manage discriminatory conduct and harassment at work.

The protocol establishes a zero‑tolerance policy and foresees the creation and dissemination of codes of conduct to promote a safe, respectful and violence‑free work environment. It defines in detail multiple forms of harassment, including workplace and sexual harassment, sex‑based harassment, harassment related to sexual orientation and harassment linked to gender identity or expression. The text also covers physical, psychological and sexual violence, sexual abuse, and digital or cyber‑harassment.

Harassment is characterised as unwanted, harmful, repetitive or serious behaviour that undermines a person’s dignity or creates a hostile, intimidating, humiliating or degrading workplace. These definitions aim to provide clear criteria for identifying conduct that contravenes workplace standards and employee rights.

To prevent and detect such conduct, the protocol mandates information and training sessions for all staff, including management. These sessions, tailored to different employee groups, are scheduled to begin in early 2026 and are intended to raise awareness, provide practical tools to identify and prevent harassment, and explain how the protocol and complaint channels operate.

An internal reporting procedure has been established to ensure complaints are handled quickly, accessibly and respectfully. The system guarantees confidentiality for complainants, operates within the framework of the public service regulations (Ordinació de la funció pública), and includes the appointment of an impartial investigative commission (comissió instructora).

Where necessary, the protocol provides for precautionary measures to protect alleged victims while investigations are carried out. The procedure is intended to be agile and guarantee the rights and dignity of all parties throughout the process.

By adopting the protocol, Escaldes‑Engordany aims to give staff concrete tools to prevent, detect and act on any form of harassment or discrimination, and to foster an organisational culture based on dignity, respect and equal opportunity.