Corporate Governance - Business Policies

Policy Against Harassment 

It is the policy of Pepco Holdings, Inc., and its affiliates (collectively, “PHI” or the “Company”) to provide a workplace that is free from harassment. The Company does not tolerate harassment of any employee or any others working at the Company, regardless of employment status, because of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation or other conditions protected by law.  Such harassment is unlawful and can result in significant liability under the law for the Company and individuals that engage in such conduct.  Moreover, the Company expects employees and all others working at the Company, regardless of employment status, to treat each other with respect and dignity.  The Company, therefore, is committed to vigorously enforcing this business policy at all levels within the Company.  The Company has issued a separate specific Policy Against Sexual Harassment, which should also be consulted.  This Policy Against Harassment relates to other forms of harassment.
What Constitutes Harassment?
For purposes of this Business Policy, harassment is conduct related to a person’s race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation or other conditions protected by law, when such conduct has the purpose or effect to unreasonably interfere with an employee’s work performance, create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment, or otherwise adversely affect an individual’s employment opportunities.  Harassment may include, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Verbal abuse or ridicule, including slurs             
  • Offensive gestures             
  • Displaying or distributing offensive materials, writings, graffiti, or pictures              
  • Offensive jokes and comments
Harassment is both unlawful and harmful to the victim and other persons working at the Company. Incidents of harassment can result in a general atmosphere in which many persons suffer.  Harassment has no legitimate business purpose; accordingly, employees or others working at the Company, regardless of employment status, who engage in prohibited conduct, will be disciplined.  The Company also will not condone harassment of an employee or others working at the Company, regardless of employment status, by any person or business entity whose relationship to such person exists through the business of the Company.

All harassment complaints will be thoroughly reviewed, and, where warranted, complaints will be remedied promptly.  To the extent practicable under the circumstances, the privacy concerns of employees involved in a harassment complaint will be accommodated.