Report includes recommendations to improve State policies and procedures

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Tuesday released a report on the state’s sexual harassment policy and reporting procedures. In December, as part of his focus on improving workplace conditions for state employees, Governor Carney directed Secretary Saundra Ross Johnson, Secretary of the Department of Human Resources (DHR), to analyze the state’s current policy and training and recommend ways to improve the state’s policies and procedures.

“As we all know, in recent months, allegations of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace have emerged across our country,” said Governor Carney. “The State of Delaware, like all employers, has an obligation to protect our employees from facing harassment and assault of any kind. That’s why I asked Secretary Johnson to prepare this report, and to look at ways we can improve the state’s policies and procedures. We will take appropriate action on all of the report’s recommendations.”

DHR presented its report to Governor Carney summarizing current Executive Branch policies, practices, and procedures and made recommendations for improvements. The report identified the need to revise the state’s current anti-discrimination and sexual harassment policies; streamline the monitoring and reporting process; and mandate consistent sexual harassment awareness and prevention training across state government.

Recommendations include:

• Policy Revisions: Consolidate the Policy on Anti-Discrimination, Workplace Harassment and Retaliation and the Policy Sexual Harassment Prevention to create one concise policy. This inclusive policy will outline a clear complaint process, necessary training, reporting, sexual harassment complaint tracking separately, and investigation requirements.
• Centralized Reporting/Tracking: Develop or identify and secure a centralized tracking system to streamline reporting and tracking of complaints and investigations of harassment from filing to resolution. This one-stop-shop system will have the ability to create, manage, track, and report on allegations of harassment.
• Performance Plans: Employee performance plans to include accountability for each employee to support a respectful workplace, free of discrimination and sexual harassment and sexual assault. The plans will set clear and specific performance expectations for each employee.
• Training: Provide mandatory training to all new and existing employees on anti-discrimination, retaliation, bullying, sexual harassment, and sexual assault, with periodic updates.
• Agency Accountability: Execute Service Level Agreements with Executive Branch agencies to establish clear expectations, for training, monitoring and tracking performance to support a respectful workplace.
• Communications Toolkit: Implement a communication plan to educate employees on the State’s sexual harassment policies, practices, procedures, and training. The plan should include marketing materials, talking points, and fact sheets, surveys, and evaluations.
• Employee Relations Helpdesk: Enhance DHR’s helpdesk and continue to provide information and receive employee questions and complaints.

The report includes completion dates for each recommendation. DHR will report publicly on the status of the recommendations and their implementation.

The Department of Human Resources, responsible for the implementation of these recommendations, was created in July 2017 by House Bill 4, to help confront issues important to state employees, improve the delivery of human resources services, and promote diversity and inclusion across state government.

“DHR has a responsibility to create and sustain an environment for State employees that is free from discrimination, sexual harassment, and assault,” adds Secretary Johnson. “We are committed to achieving this by implementing the recommendations of this report and developing consistent and clearly defined policies, practices and procedures.”

Read the full report here.

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DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney on Wednesday issued the following statement on the Delaware Senate’s confirmation of Saundra Ross Johnson to serve as Secretary of the Delaware Department of Human Resources:

“Thank you to the members of the Delaware Senate for confirming Saundra Ross Johnson as Secretary of the Department of Human Resources. Sandy has the right mix of experience, leadership skills, and thoughtfulness to oversee this Department, and make a real difference for state employees – and she has provided that guidance over the last several months. This Department will tackle issues important to our employees, and will help us operate more efficiently across state agencies. I’m confident that Sandy is the right person for the job to focus attention and resources on state government’s most important asset – our employees.”

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Governor Carney appointed Saundra Ross Johnson as Acting Secretary of the Department in July.

Since 2009, Johnson has been the Executive Director of the City of Camden Redevelopment Agency, working as a member of a mayoral executive team with responsibility for housing, commercial and institutional revitalization in Camden, N.J.

From 2000-2009, Johnson served as a member of then-Governor Ruth Ann Minner’s Cabinet as Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority. As Director, Johnson was responsible for more than 100 employees and the operation of mortgage finance programs, public housing in Kent and Sussex counties, the administration of federal housing tax credits, and other housing development programs. She oversaw a more than $10 million operating budget, a $100 million housing trust fund portfolio, and a $2 billion bond portfolio.

Previously she was Executive Director for Interfaith Housing, Delaware’s largest statewide housing redeveloper, and worked as Director of New Castle County’s Department of Community Development and Housing.

The Department of Human Resources was created by House Bill 4, to help confront issues important to state employees and improve the delivery of human resources services. The agency’s priorities will include promoting diversity and inclusion across state government, and working with the Department of Correction to address the state’s shortage of correctional officers.

Creating a new Human Resources Department was a recommendation of Governor Carney’s Action Plan For Delaware.

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Keith Hunt, who brings strategic human resources experience, starts December 18

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Friday announced the appointment of Keith Hunt to serve as the State of Delaware’s first Chief Diversity Officer. Hunt will lead the state’s efforts to define and cultivate equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout state government.

Hunt, who starts December 18, will report to the Department of Human Resources Acting Secretary, Saundra Ross Johnson, and manage the work of the Department’s Division of Diversity and Inclusion.

“I remain committed to creating a work environment that is inclusive, diverse, and representative of all Delawareans,” said Governor Carney. “The Chief Diversity Officer will play a vital role in transforming the state’s diversity and inclusion strategies, and continue our work to ensure our state government values its employees and is representative of all of the people we serve.”

The Department of Human Resources and the Division of Diversity and Inclusion were created by House Bill 4.

Governor Carney signed the legislation in July 2017 to help confront issues important to state employees and improve the delivery of human resources services. Acting Secretary Johnson led a national search to select a Chief Diversity Officer candidate with a deep understanding of the complexity and multiple dimensions of diversity, inclusion, and equity.

“I am confident that with Keith’s extensive Human Resources experience and proven success in the private and public sectors, he will work collaboratively with employees and community stakeholders to create a different and finer work culture for state government,” said Acting Secretary Johnson.

Hunt served in several strategic human resources leadership roles. Since 2004, he served as Managing Director of Human Capital Solutions, Inc., a human resources and organizational development consulting agency that serves Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, government, and nonprofit organizations. Previously, he led employee relations as an Assistant Vice President at CIGNA, Inc.

During his career, Hunt has helped translate business vision and strategy into organizational capabilities for success with a focus on business process improvement, people policy development, change management, people and team development, diversity and inclusion, and human resources talent management systems.

“I am looking forward to joining the Human Resources team as we work in partnership with all the state leadership, employees, and key stakeholders in bringing about a diverse and inclusive workplace environment,” said Hunt.

The appointment of a Chief Diversity Officer builds on Governor Carney’s efforts to confront discrimination. In April, as a result of Governor Carney’s Executive Order Six, a uniform anti-discrimination policy across state government was established to allow state agencies to consistently respond to reports of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the workplace.

The Action Plan for Delaware, created by Governor Carney’s transition team, recommended the establishment separate Office of Human Resources, headed by Cabinet-level official, to give state employees a greater voice in decisions that affect them, to encourage diversity within personnel and of opportunity in the state workplace, and to ensure uniform enforcement of policies.

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New agency created by House Bill 4; Sandy Johnson previously served as Director of Delaware State Housing Authority

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday announced his appointment of Sandy Johnson – a former Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority who has significant executive experience – to serve as Acting Secretary of Delaware’s newly-created Department of Human Resources.

Governor Carney intends to nominate Johnson to serve as Secretary of the agency when the Delaware Senate reconvenes and members can consider her nomination.

“I know Sandy well, and believe she has the right mix of experience, leadership skills, and thoughtfulness to help us get this Department off the ground, and make a real difference for state employees,” said Governor Carney. “This new Department will tackle issues important to our employees, and will help us operate more efficiently across state agencies. I’m confident that Sandy is the right person for the job. Thank you to members of the General Assembly for their leadership in helping create this agency to focus attention and resources on state government’s most important asset – our employees.”

Since 2009, Johnson has been the Executive Director of the City of Camden Redevelopment Agency, working as a member of a mayoral executive team with responsibility for housing, commercial and institutional revitalization in Camden, N.J.

From 2000-2009, Johnson served as a member of then-Governor Ruth Ann Minner’s Cabinet as Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority. As Director, Johnson was responsible for more than 100 employees and the operation of mortgage finance programs, public housing in Kent and Sussex counties, the administration of federal housing tax credits, and other housing development programs. She oversaw a more than $10 million operating budget, a $100 million housing trust fund portfolio, and a $2 billion bond portfolio.

Previously she was Executive Director for Interfaith Housing, Delaware’s largest statewide housing redeveloper, and worked as Director of New Castle County’s Department of Community Development and Housing.

“I am deeply grateful to the Governor for this nomination. His confidence in my ability to assist in moving his agenda forward with a strong human resource infrastructure is humbling,” said Johnson. “Our Governor understands the critical role state workers play in good government, and that the time to focus on this is now.”

The new Department of Human Resources was created by House Bill 4, to help confront issues important to state employees and improve the delivery of human resources services. The new agency’s priorities will include promoting diversity and inclusion across state government, and working with the Department of Correction to address the state’s shortage of correctional officers.

Creating a new Human Resources Department was a recommendation of Governor Carney’s Action Plan For Delaware.