Respect and Civility in the Workplace | State of New Hampshire

Welcome to the Respect and Civility in the Workplace Website

The State of New Hampshire is committed to providing a positive public service environment in which all employees, State officials, members of the public, and others doing business with the State are treated with respect, civility, and professionalism.

In support of that commitment, the State has launched a Respect and Civility in the Workplace statewide initiative that provides guidance, direction, and training to all State agencies regarding the expectations and responsibilities of State employees and officials concerning respectful and civil behavior in the workplace.

The Respect and Civility in the Workplace statewide initiative includes:

Executive Order 2020-01 Regarding Respect and Civility in the Workplace.
Respect and Civility in the Workplace Policy, Employee Core Values and accompanying Standard Operating Procedure for addressing complaints.
Respect and Civility in the Workplace Training (mandatory).
- Executive Leadership Edition.
- Supervisor Edition.
- Employee Edition.
- Ongoing training and educational activities.
- Ongoing measurement (surveys and data collection) to better understand and continuously improve our work environment.

Executive Order 2020-01: Respect and Civility in the Workplace

On January 9, 2020, Governor Chris T. Sununu signed Executive Order 2020-01 regarding Respect and Civility in the Workplace. Executive Order 2020-01 applies to all State employees, whether classified, commissioned, unclassified or non-classified, and all State officials including:

the Governor;
executive councilors;
constitutional officials and their staff;
and any person doing business on behalf of the Governor, an executive branch official or executive branch agency, including volunteers and board and commission members.

Executive Order 2020-01 requires that:

all State employees and officials treat others in the workplace with respect and civility consistent with our core values;
the State respond to allegations of disrespect and incivility in the workplace and hold employees and State officials accountable for their conduct;
the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) provide guidance to State agencies through policy and other direction, and provide ongoing education and training; and
the DAS and the Department of Justice revise State contract language as necessary to advance the purposes of the Respect and Civility in the Workplace policy.

Our Core Values

As State employees and officials, we are representatives of the State of New Hampshire. Through our commitment to these core values, we make our State better for ourselves and the people of New Hampshire every day.

Respect: We treat all people with dignity and respect. We avoid making assumptions and judgments.
Teamwork: We are collaborative and constructive. We contribute to a positive working atmosphere.
Integrity: We are responsible and hold ourselves accountable for the decisions we make, the actions we take, and the words we use. When we make mistakes, we acknowledge them and act to correct them.
Civility: We are courteous and polite in our behavior. We are open, honest, and direct in all aspects of our communication.
Growth: We foster an environment where learning and growth are supported.
Diversity: We welcome and support people of all backgrounds, abilities, and identities. We have a general awareness of the rights, concerns, and feelings of others.
Constructive Attitude: We conduct ourselves in a forward-looking and productive manner in order to advance our work. We listen to all perspectives and are considerate of others.

Respect and Civility in the Workplace Policy

Recognizing that respect for one another is fundamental to working in an effective, efficient and innovative manner, and that disrespect and incivility can disrupt the proper functioning of the workplace and be a barrier to effective communication, collaboration, and performance, the State of New Hampshire established the Respect and Civility in the Workplace Policy.

The Respect and Civility in the Workplace Policy describes the responsibilities of agency heads, supervisors, managers, employees, State officials, and volunteers regarding appropriate and prohibited conduct in the workplace, the general process for addressing complaints, and requirements for communication, education, and training. The Policy also prohibits retaliation against any individual who makes a complaint or provides information regarding a complaint.

The Policy applies to all executive branch employees whether classified, commissioned, unclassified or non-classified, and State officials, including board members and commission members.

Standard Operating Procedure for Addressing Complaints

The Respect and Civility in the Workplace Policy has a corresponding Respect and Civility in the Workplace Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that provides step-by-step instruction on how employees and supervisors should address complaints of disrespect and incivility. Further instruction is provided in the Respect and Civility in the Workplace Training.

Note that complaints alleging disrespectful or uncivil behavior motivated by sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, creed, color, age, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, national origin, or any other State or Federal protected status are addressed per the process outlined in the State Sexual Harassment Policy and not this SOP.

Respect and Civility in the Workplace Training Program

The Respect and Civility in the Workplace Training Program consists of the following three training requirements, available on the Statewide Learning Portal. Completion of the appropriate training is mandatory. The Division of Personnel will track completion of the training by agency and include those data points in their annual report.

Respect and Civility in the Workplace Training
- Completion is mandatory for all employees and State officials including board and commission members and volunteers.
Respect and Civility in the Workplace Training – Executive Leadership Edition
- This additional training is mandatory for commissioners, assistant/associate commissioners, and directors.
Respect and Civility in the Workplace Training – Supervisor Edition
- This additional training is mandatory for all supervisors, managers and executives.

State Contract Language

State contractors are required to comply with the Governor's Executive Order 2020-01 regarding Respect and Civility in the Workplace. Form P-37, the State’s standard language that applies to all State contractors, has been revised to include this requirement.