Harassment, Retaliation Found In Colo. Capitol Workplace Study

DENVER, CO -- Almost one-third of lobbyists and elected members of the Colorado General Assembly described the environment at the Capitol as "negative" when it came to sexual harassment, according to a 225-page independent study released Thursday by the General Assembly. The environment survey and recommendation report was conducted by Denver-based Investigations Law Group in Denver.

The group surveyed and followed up with hundreds of interviews among elected officials, lobbyists, staff and aides/volunteers at the statehouse.

"There have been real problems of harassment in the General Assembly that have negatively impacted lives, careers and the wellbeing of members of the legislative workplace," the study said.

The study said almost 30 percent of respondents reported having seen or experienced harassment, but only 13 percent said they reported it. The study included sexual harassment, as well as "harassment based on other protected classes." Of those who complained, more than 70 percent were unhappy with the outcome.

Another 50 percent of people responding to the survey and interviews said they observed sexist behavior and episodes of seriously disrespectful behavior.

Eighty percent of lobbyists and people in the "other" category did not know who their contact was to make a complaint of inappropriate behavior, the study said. The study also found that "retaliation is a real concern."

"This suggests to us that there is work to do," the study said.

The study suggested the the General Assembly take a look at best practices from other legislative and private sector procedures, including those instituted by the EEOC and statehouses in New Mexico and Wyoming, to develop a "Next Generation" plan for reporting and dealing with workplace harassment, calling it a "modern reboot, as it were, designed to take theinstitution of the General Assembly to a higher and better version of itself."

Since November, several male lawmakers have been accused of sexual harassment in the Colorado General Assembly.

This week, the Senate voted not to expel Randy Baumgardner, (R-Hot Sulphur Springs) who was accused of grabbing an aide's buttocks. Another intern said Baumgardner pressured her to drink alone in his office and made lewd comments in 2016. A male staffer filed an official complaint Feb. 21 that Baumgardner created "an offensive and hostile work environment." Baumgardner stepped down from chair of the Senate transportation committee and agreed to attend sexual harassment sensitivity training in March.

Read the Colorado Legislative Workplace Study here:

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Image via Jean Lotus, Patch.com