Nevada Gaming Control Board Addresses Sexual Harassment Policy

LAS VEGAS, NV - The Nevada Gaming Control Board wants to implement a wide-ranging sexual harassment policy for all of its members, according to a memo sent by Chairwoman Becky Harris to licensees on Thursday. The notice informs licensees of the Board's plans to implement a set of "regulations or minimum internal control standards," pertaining to sexual harassment in the workplace. The regulations will serve to ensure licensees are in compliance with the Board's stance on sexual harassment.

Harris sent the memo on Thursday, March 1.

"Sexual harassment continues to be one of the most frequent complaints raised in the workplace. Sexual harassment includes, among other things, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, unwanted sexual attention and gender harassment. An anti-sexual harassment policy is a key component to sexual harassment prevention," the notice reads.

With the notice, the Commission attached a "checklist," for licensees to compare their sexual harassment policy to. The checklist, the notice said, is "intended only as a guide," and any final policy will be implemented after a workshop involving licensees.

The checklists is comprised of 15 "yes or no" questions, asking licensees if the following elements are part of their sexual harassment policy:

1. An unequivocal statement that sexual harassment will not be tolerated.
2. An unequivocal statement that there is an organizational commitment to diversity, inclusion and respect.
3. An easy-t-understand description of prohibited conduct, with examples given.
4. A description of a reporting system available to employees who experience sexual harassment, as well as those who observe sexual harassment. Said reporting system must include the company's compliance committee should one exist.
5. A statement that the reporting system will provide a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation.
6. A statement that the identity of an individual who submits a report, a witness who
   provides information regarding a report, the target of the complaint, and any information gathered as part of the investigation will be kept confidential to the fullest extent possible.
7. An assurance that the employer will take immediate and proportionate corrective action if it determines sexual harassment has occurred.
8. A communication of the disposition of the investigation to all parties and, where appropriate, a communication of the sanction imposed if sexual harassment was substantiated.
9. An assurance that an individual who submits a report or a witness who provides information wil lbe protected from retaliation.
10. A statement that any employee who retaliates against any individual who submits a report or provides information regarding the report will be disciplined approriately.
11. Regular coplinace training for all employees.
12. An annual review and assessment of internal sexual harassment policies and procedrues to ensrue effectiveness.
13. A plan to remedy any deficineies noted after the annual review and assessment, resulting in more effective policies and procdeures.
14. Good faith efforts to prevent or remedy repeated problems should they exist.
15. Implementaiton of an annual survey that asks employees to report whether they are currently being harassed or know of any harassment taking place.

The 15 points are "minimum standards," for sexual harassment policy, the notice said. The notice also attached a sexual harassment complaint form.

"I look forward to receiving input from Nevada licensees and the gaming industry at the upcoming regulation workshop," Harris said in a statement.

The notice comes over a month a bombshell report from the Wall Street Journal, accusing Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn of sexual harassment over the course of several decades, rocked Nevada's gaming industry. Wynn, one of the preeminent figures in Nevada's gaming history, resigned from his company on Feb. 7 following the allegations detailed in the report. Since then, the Las Vegas Review-Journal also ran a story detailing accusations brought against Wynn dating back to 1998.