Harassment Prevention

Harassment Prevention Policy

Policy Statement

Amenities Day Spa And Salon maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy toward harassment, discrimination, and retaliation in any form. This policy applies to all workplace interactions, including those on salon premises, at off-site events, during training sessions, and in any work-related communications - whether in person, by phone, text, email, or social media.

Every employee, regardless of position, has the right to work in an environment free from harassment and discrimination.

Violation of this policy is grounds for immediate disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Amenities Spa is an equal opportunity employer. The Company prohibits discrimination and harassment in all employment practices on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This commitment applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Protected Categories Under California Law

California law prohibits harassment and discrimination based on:

  • Race or Color
  • Religion (including religious dress and grooming practices)
  • Sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions)
  • Gender, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Marital Status
  • National Origin and Ancestry
  • Physical Disability (including HIV/AIDS status, cancer, and conditions affecting major life activities)
  • Mental Disability (including depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and other mental health conditions)
  • Medical Condition (including genetic characteristics and cancer)
  • Genetic Information
  • Military or Veteran Status
  • Age (40 years of age and older)
  • Pregnancy (including pregnancy-related conditions)
  • Reproductive Health Decisions

What Is Harassment?

Harassment is unwelcome conduct based on a protected characteristic that is either severe enough to create a hostile work environment or is made a condition of employment.

Quid Pro Quo Harassment

"Quid pro quo" means "this for that." This occurs when someone in authority conditions an employment benefit or detriment on your submission to or rejection of unwelcome conduct. Examples:

  • A manager implies you will receive a raise or favorable scheduling if you agree to a date or sexual favor
  • A supervisor threatens to reduce your hours or terminate you because you rejected a romantic advance

A single incident of quid pro quo harassment is sufficient to constitute a violation.

Hostile Work Environment

A hostile work environment exists when unwelcome conduct based on a protected characteristic is severe or pervasive enough to alter working conditions. Examples:

  • Repeated offensive jokes or comments about a protected characteristic
  • Displaying or sharing offensive images, memes, or videos
  • Persistent unwanted romantic or sexual attention
  • Mimicking or mocking someone's accent, disability, or cultural practices
  • Deliberately misusing a transgender employee's name or pronouns after being corrected

Harassment in the Salon Environment

Inappropriate Comments About Appearance

Working in a beauty-focused environment does not give anyone license to make unsolicited comments about a coworker's body, weight, skin, hair, or physical appearance in a way that demeans or sexualizes them.

Unwanted Touching During Demonstrations or Training

Physical contact during training and demonstrations must be appropriate and consensual. Using a training context as a pretext for unwelcome touching is prohibited.

Client Harassment of Employees

You have the right to perform your work without being harassed by clients. Conduct by clients that may constitute harassment includes:

  • Making sexual comments or advances during a service
  • Touching you inappropriately during an appointment
  • Making derogatory remarks about your race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristic

If a client harasses you:

  1. If safe to do so, calmly state that the conduct is unwelcome and must stop
  2. End or pause the service if the conduct continues
  3. Remove yourself from the situation and report to a manager immediately

You will never be penalized for stopping a service due to client harassment. Protecting employees is a higher priority than completing an appointment.

What Is Discrimination?

Discrimination occurs when an employment decision - hiring, firing, pay, scheduling, access to training - is made based on a protected characteristic rather than legitimate job-related factors.

What Is Retaliation?

Retaliation occurs when an adverse action is taken against you because you engaged in a protected activity, such as:

  • Reporting harassment or discrimination
  • Participating in an investigation as a witness
  • Filing a complaint with a government agency
  • Requesting a reasonable accommodation

Examples of retaliation: reducing your hours or desirable clients, issuing sudden negative reviews, excluding you from training, or terminating you shortly after you engage in protected activity.

Retaliation is itself an independent violation of California law.

How to Report

Reporting Channels

  1. Direct Supervisor: If your supervisor is not involved in the complaint
  2. Salon Owner / Christopher Geigle: Complaints may be reported at any time - 559-248-6942, chrisgeigle@gmail.com
  3. External Agencies: You always have the right to file directly with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) or the federal EEOC (see below)

No employee is required to report harassment to a person who is the subject of their complaint.

How to File an Internal Complaint

  1. Report verbally or in writing to one of the channels above
  2. Provide as much detail as possible: names, dates, times, locations, witnesses, and any documentation
  3. You will receive written acknowledgment within two business days

Any indication that prohibited conduct may have occurred will be taken seriously and investigated.

Confidentiality

Complaints will be handled with as much confidentiality as possible. Information will be shared only with those who need to know for investigation or corrective action. Complete confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.

Filing a Complaint with the CRD or EEOC

You have the right to file a complaint with a government agency at any time - filing internally is not required first.

California Civil Rights Department (CRD)

  • Website: www.calcivilrights.ca.gov
  • Phone: 1-800-884-1684
  • Filing Deadline: Within three years of the last act of discrimination or harassment

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

  • Website: www.eeoc.gov
  • Phone: 1-800-669-4000
  • Filing Deadline: Within 300 days of the discriminatory act (in California)

Filing a complaint is free of charge. You are protected from retaliation for filing.

Acknowledgment

This Harassment Prevention Policy is part of the Amenities Day Spa And Salon Employee Handbook. All employees are required to read this policy and sign the acknowledgment form.

Questions about this policy should be directed to Christopher Geigle at 559-248-6942 or chrisgeigle@gmail.com.

Effective Date: March 17, 2026 Last Reviewed: March 17, 2026