This file was prepared for electronic distribution by the inforM staff. Questions or comments should be directed to inform-editor@umail.umd.edu. Appendix 1 1987 Questionnaire (format has been altered due to graphics limitations) U.S. MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD Washington, D.C. 20419 Dear Federal Co-worker: The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), an independent Federal agency, is conducting a study of sexual harassment in the Federal workplace. This survey is intended to find out whether uninvited and unwelcome sexual attention is a problem in the Federal service and to determine what is being done about it. Our results will be reported to the President, Congress, and made available to the public. Your participation can make a difference. Your name was selected in a random sample of Federal workers. In order that the survey reflect the true thoughts and experiences of Federal employees, it is extremely important that all people in this scientific sample, both men and women, complete their questionnaire. We need answers from those who have not been exposed to sexual harassment as well as from those who have. Likewise, we need answers from those who do not think a significant problem exists, as well as from those who do. Your frank and honest answers will be kept strictly contidential. All answers will be combined so that individual responses cannot be identified. It is essential that you do not put your name anywhere on this booklet and do not ask anyone else to fill it out. Please return the completed questionnaire in the enclosed postpaid envelope within 5 days after you receive it. Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, Paul D. Mahoney Director, Office of Policy and Evaluation MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD Washington, D.C. 20419 SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE FEDERAL WORKPLACE: IS IT A PROBLEM? This is a nationwide study of sexual harassment in the Federal workplace. The first and second sections of this booklet ask how you feel about relationships among people who work together. The third section asks about your own experience with sexual harassment. The fourth section asks questions about you, such as your sex, age, and education. You may not have to answer every question in the survey. Instructions in each of the sections will tell you which questions to answer. Also, please use the last page of this questionnaire to write any additional comments you may have. We appreciate your taking the time to complete and return this important survey. REPORT REQUEST ADDRESS If you would like a copy of the reports published as a result of this survey, address your request to: U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board Room 800 1120 Vermont Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20419 PRIVACY ACT NOTICE Collection of the requested information is authorized by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-454). Your participation in this survey is completely voluntary and none of the information you choose to supply will be associated with you individually. SECTION I This section asks how you feel about certain types of interactions among people who work together. We would like to know what you would think if the following happened to you or to someone else at work. For each behavior llsted below, please mark ONE response for each behavior. RESPONSE CHOICES TO BEHAVIOR Definitely Not Probably Not Don't Know Probably Yes Definitely Yes BEHAVIOR 1. Uninvited letters, telephone calls, or materials of a sexual nature. a. If a supervisor did this, would you consider this sexual harassment? b. If another worker did this, would you consider this sexual harassment? 2. Uninvited and deliberate touching, leanlng over, cornering, or pinching. a. If a supervisor did this, would you consider this sexual harassment? b. If another worker did this, would you consider this sexual harassment? 3. Uninvited sexualiy suggestive looks or gestures. a. If a supervisor did this, would you consider this sexual harassment? b. If another worker did this, would you consider this sexual harassment? 4. Uninvited pressure tor sexual favors. a. If a supervisor did this, would you consider this sexual harassment? b. If another worker did this, would you consider this sexual harassment? 5. Uninvited pressure for dates. a. If a supervisor did this, would you consider this sexual harassment? b. If another worker did this, would you consider this sexual harassment? 6. Uninvited sexual teasing, jokes, remarks or questions. a. If a supervisor did this, would you consider this sexual harassment? b. If another worker did this, would you consider this sexual harassment? 7. If you have worked outside of the Federal Government, would you say that there is more or less unwanted sexual attention in non-Federal jobs? O I have never held a non-Federal job. O There is more on non-Federal jobs. O There is about the same in Federal and non-Federal jobs. O There is less on non-Federal jobs. O I don't know. 8. In your opinion, is sexual harassment in the Federal Government more or less of a problem than it was 5 years ago? O It was never a problem. O It is much more of a problem. O It is more of a problem. O It is about the same. O It is less of a problem. O It is much less of a problem. O Don't know/can't judge. 9. We want to know (A) whether you think the following possible forrmal actions are avallable to those who have been sexually harassed and (B) If the actions would be effective in helping those employees. For each actlon llsted below, please mark ONE response for each action. RESPONSE CHOICES FOR (A) This action is available in my agency Yes No Don't Know RESPONSE CHOICES FOR (B) How effective would this action be? Very Effective Somewhat Effective Neither Effective nor Ineffective Somewhat Ineffective Not at all Effective Do Not Know ACTIONS a. Requesting an investigation by my agency b. Requesting an investigation by an outside agency c. Filing a grievance or adverse action appeal d. Filing a discrimination complaint e. Filing a complaint through special channels set up for sexual harassment complaints 10. My agency makes reasonable efforts to stop sexual harassment. Mark one response. O Strongly disagree O Disagree O No opinion O Agree O Strongly agree SECTION II In this section, we would like your views on what actions you consider useful in reducing any sexual harassment which may occur in the workplace. 11. In most cases, which of the followlng do you think are the most ettective actions for employees to take to make others stop bothering them sexually? Mark all that apply. O Ignoring the behavior. O Avoiding the person(s). O Asking or telling the person(s) to stop. O Threatening to tell or telling other workers. O Reporting the behavior to the supervisor or other officials. O Filing a formal complaint. O There is very little that employees can do to make others stop bothering them sexually O None of the above. 12. In your opinion, (A) has your agency taken any of the following actions in an effort to reduce sexual harassment which may have occurred in your workplace, and if so, (B) how effective has each action been? RESPONSE CHOICES FOR (A) My agency took this action Yes No Don't Know RESPONSE CHOICES FOR (B) How effective has this action been? Very Effective Somewhat Effective Neither Effective nor Ineffective Somewhat Ineffective Not at all Effective Do Not Know Not Applicable ACTION a. Establishing policies prohibiting sexual harassment b. Providing swift and thorough investigations of complaints c. Enforcing penalties against managers who allow that behavior to continue d. Enforcing penalties against sexual harassers e. Publicizing availability of formal complaint channels f. Providing counseling services for victims of sexual harassment g. Providing awareness training for employees h. Providing awareness training for managers and EEO officials SECTION III This section asks about any experience you may have had with uninvited and unwanted sexual attentlon on the lob from persons of either sex. 13. How often have you received any of the following uninvited and unwanted sexual attentlon during the last 24 months from someone where you work in the Federal Government? Mark one response for each attention. RESPONSE CHOICES Frequency in the last 24 months Never Once Once a Month or less 2-4 times a month Once a week or more UNINVITED SEXUAL ATTENTION a. Actual or attempted rape or assault b. Unwanted pressure for sexual favors c. Unwanted deliberate touching, leaning over, cornering, or pinching d. Unwanted sexual looks or gestures e. Unwanted letters, telephone calls or materials of a sexual nature f. Unwanted pressure for dates g. Unwanted sexual teasing, jokes, remarks or questions If you have not received any uninvited sexual attention in the last 24 months, go to Section IV. If uninvited and unwanted sexual attention has happened to you in the Federal Government within the last 24 months, select the one experience that is either the most recent or that had the greatest effect on you and answer the questions in this section in terms of that one experience. 14. Is the experience you are about to describe the most recent one or the one that had the greatest e1fect on you? Mark all that apply. O This was my only experience. O This was my most recent experience. O This was the experience that had the greatest effect on me. O This experience is still continuing. 15. Did this experience take place where you now work or on a different Federal job? O This experience took place on the job where I now work. O This experience took place on a different job in the Federal Government. 16. During any particular experience, a person may receive more than one kind of unwanted sexual attention. During the experience you descrlbe here, which of the following happened to you? Mark all that apply. O Actual or attempted rape or sexual assault. O Unwanted pressure for sexual favors. O Unwanted and deliberate touching, leaning over, cornering, or pinching. O Unwanted sexually suggestive looks or pressures. O Unwanted letters, telephone calls, or materials of a sexual nature. O Unwanted pressure for dates. O Unwanted sexual teasing, jokes, remarks, or questions. 17. How onen did the unwanted sexual attentlon occur? Mark one response. O Once O Once a month O 2 to 4 times a month O Every few days O Every day 18. How long did this unwanted sexual attentlon last? Mark one response. O Less than 1 week O 1 to 4 weeks O 1 to 3 months O 4 to 6 months O More than 6 months 19A. What action(s) did you take in response to this unwanted sexual attention? Mark all that apply. 19B. For each action that you took, what effect did it have? Mark one response for each action that you took. RESPONSE CHOICES FOR (19A) I took this action O a. I ignored the behavior or did nothing O b. I avoided the person(s) O c. I asked/told the person(s) to stop O d. I threatened to tell or told others O e. I reported the behavior to the supervisor or other officials O f. I made a joke of the behavior O g. I went along with the behavior O h. I transferred, disciplined, or gave a poor performance rating to the person O i. I did something other than the actions listed above (Please explain on page 12) RESPONSE CHOICES FOR (19B) Effect of action Made things worse Made no difference Made things better 20. Dld any of the followlng changes happen in your work situation as a result of the unwanted sexual attentlon? Mark all that apply. O My working assignments or conditions got worse. O I was denied a promotion, step increase, good performance rating, or reference. O I was reassigned or fired. O I transferred or quit to take another job. O I quit without having another job. O My working conditions got better. O I received a promotion, step increase, good performance rating or reference. O No changes occurred in my work situation. 21. Did you take any formal actions? O No-Go to Question 24. O Yes 22A. What formal actions did you take? Mark all that apply. 22B. For each action that you took, mark one response for each action you took. RESPONSE CHOICES FOR (22A) I took this action O a. I requested an investigation by my organization O b. I requested an investigation by an outside agency O c. I filed a grievance or adverse action appeal O d. I filed a discrimination complaint or lawsuit O e. Other (please explain on page 12) O f. None of the above. Go to Question 24. RESPONSE CHOICES FOR (22B) Effect of action Made things worse Made no difference Made things better 23. How did your agency's management respond to the formal action you took? Mark all that apply. O I did not take formal action. O Found my charge to be true. O Found my charge to be false. O Corrected the damage done to me. O Took action against the person who bothered me. O Were hostile or took action against me. O Agency did nothing. O The action is still being processed. O don't know whether management did anything. 24. What were your reasons for not taking any formal actlons? Mark all that apply. O I did take formal actions. O I did not know what actions to take. O I saw no need to report it. O I did not want to hurt the person who bothered me. O I was too embarrassed. O I did not think anything would be done. O I thought it would take too much time and effort. O I thought that it would be held against me or that I would be blamed. O I thought that it would make my work situation unoleasant. 25. How did the unwanted sexual attention aftect you? For each statement listed below, mark the response which best describes how you were affected: RESPONSE CHOICES How you were affected Became worse Had no effect Became better STATEMENT a. My feelings about work b. My emotional or physical condition c. My ability to work with others on the job d. The quality of my work e. The quantity of my work f. My time and attendance at work 26. Was the person(s) who sexually bothered you: Mark all that apply O Your immediate supervisor(s) O Other higher level supervisor(s) O Your co-worker(s) O Your subordinate(s) O Other employee(s) O Other or unknown 27. How long have/had you worked at the agency where the incident occurred? Mark one response. O Less than 6 months O 6 months to 1 year O 1 to 2 years O 2-5 years O 5 years or more 28. Did you receive either medical assistance or emotional counsellng as a result of the unwanted sexual attention? Mark one response. O Yes, I received medical assistance. O Yes, I received emotional counseling. O Yes, I received both medical assistance and emotional counseling. O No, but emotional counseling may have been helpful. O No, but medical assistance may have been helpful. O No, I did not need either medical assistance or emotional counseling. 29. If you used any sick leave as a result of the unwanted sexual attention. please indicate approximately how much sick leave you used. Mark one response. O I took no sick leave as a result of the unwanted sexual attention. O I used 8 hours or less. O I used between 9 and 16 hours. O I used between 17 and 40 hours. O I used between 41 and 80 hours. O I used more than 80 hours. 30. If you used any annual leave as a result of the unwanted sexual attentlon. please indicate approximately how much annual leave you used. Mark one response. O I took no annual leave as a result of the unwanted sexual attention. O I used 8 hours or less. O I used between 9 and 16 hours. O I used between 17 and 40 hours. O I used between 41 and 80 hours. O I used more than 80 hours. 31. Did you use leave without pay as a result of the unwanted sexual attention? Mark one response. O I took no leave without pay as a result of the unwanted sexual attention. O I used 8 hours or less. O I used between 9 and 16 hours. O I used between 17 and 40 hours. O I used between 41 and 80 hours. O I used more than 80 hours. 32. In comparison to your normal job performance, was your productivity (i.e., either how much work you did or how well you did it) affected by the unwanted sexual attention? If so, please indicate the extent your productivity was affected. (In responding to this question do not count time lost due to use of sick or annual leave.) Mark one response. O My productivity was not reduced-Go to Question 34. O My productivity was slightly reduced (i.e., 10% or less). O My productivity was noticeably reduced (i.e., 11-25%). O My productivity was markedly reduced (i.e., 26-50%). O My productivity was dramatically reduced (i.e., more than 50%). O Don't know/Can't judge-Go to Question 34. 33. If you said that your productivity was reduced, how long did this reduction continue? Mark one response. O Less than 1 week O 1 week to 1 month O 1 to 3 months O 4 to 6 months O More than 6 months O Don't know/Can't judge SECTION IV This section asks about your work setting. If you responded to Section II (if you received unwanted sexual attention), please answer these questions in terms of the job where the incident occurred. If you did not complete Section III, please answer these questions in terms of your present job. 34. Recently, women have been taking jobs that mostly men did in the past and men have been moving into jobs held mostly by women. For example, there are now more female airplane mechanics and male nurses. Are you one of the first of your sex in your job? O No O Yes 35. How long have you been a Federal employee? O Less than 1 year O 1 to 5 years O 6 to 10 years O 11 to 15 years O 16 to 20 years O 21 to 25 years O 26 to 30 years O 31 years or more 36. Is your immediate supervisor: O Male O Female 37. Are the people you work with during a normal workday: O All men O More men than women O Equal numbers of men and women O More women than men O All women 38. What is your pay category or classification? Mark one response. O General Schedule (GS, GM, GG, GW, etc.) O Executive (SES, ES, ST, EX, etc.) O Wage system (WG, WS, WL, WD, WN, etc.) O Other 39. What is your pay grade? For example GS-5, WG-9. Mark one response. O 1 - 4 O 5 - 8 O 9 - 12 O 13- 15 O 15 and over (or SES) 40. How would you describe your job? Mark one response. O Trainee O Blue collar/service O Office/clerical O Professional/technical O Adminstration/management O Other 41. Are you a supervisor who gives performance ratlngs to other employees? O Yes O No SECTION V This section asks for information we need to help us with the statistical analysis of the survey. 42. What is the highest level of education that you have completed? Mark only ONE. O Less than a high school diploma. O High school diploma or GED (Graduate Equivalency Diploma). O High school diploma plus some technical training or apprenticeship. O Some college. O Graduated from college (BA, BS or some other bachelor's degree) O Some graduate school O Graduate or professional school 43. What Is your age? O 1-19 O 20-24 O 25-34 O 35-44 O 45-54 O 55 or older 44. What Is your marital status? O Single O Married O Divorced or separated O Widowed 45. What is your sex? O Male O Female 46. In which agency do you work? O Agriculture O Commerce O Defense O Air Force O Army O Navy O Other DoD O Education O Energy O Environmental Protection Agency O General Services Administration O Health and Human Services O Housing and Urban Development O Interior O Justice O Labor O National Aeronautics and Space Administration O Office of Personnel Management O Small Business Administration O State, AID, or ICA O Transportation O Treasury O Veterans Administration O Other 47. In the space provided below, please suggest actions (other than those already in place) agencies could take to reduce the problem of sexual harassment. OTHER COMMENTS If you have any other comments, please write them here. If you need more space, please attach additional sheets of paper. THIS COMPLETES THE QUESTIONNAIRE. Please use the enclosed, postage paid envelope to return your completed questionnaire. If pre-printed envelope is unavailable, return form to: MSPB Survey Processing Center P.O. Box 4199 Iowa City, Iowa 52244-4199 THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!