Columbia County
Equal Employment Opportunity & Americans with Disability Act

Human Resources Manager and Equal Opportunity Officer
 Michaele Williams-Riordon

Columbia County Human Resources and Payroll
  401 State Street
Hudson, NY 12534
  Phone: 518-828-4086
        Fax: 518-828-1991

Overview

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a Human Resources Department function administered by the EEO Officer who works with all Columbia County departments to support a focus on the recruitment, retention, promotion, and development of people from diverse backgrounds. The Department’s work oversees the cultivation of a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture that is intentional about access and opportunity for marginalized populations fostered by leadership. Policy awareness training for all employees is conducted annually. Discrimination and harassment charges by employees and customers are processed through this office. Since its implementation, the Department has assisted County leaders in ensuring that processes, procedures, and services performed by Columbia County are equitable for all.

Compliance

Columbia County is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ensuring equal opportunity in employment for qualified persons with disabilities. All employment practices and activities are conducted on a non-discriminatory basis. 

"Reasonable accommodation" means modification or adjustment to a job, work environment, work process, employment policies, training, benefits, employer sponsored activities, or the pre-employment process that does not impose an undue hardship on the department's operation and that enables a:

- Person with a disability to enjoy an equal employment opportunity; or
- Person with a disability to perform the essential job functions.

"Person with a disability" means a person:

- With a physical, mental or sensory impairment that substantially limits the person in some major life activity, e.g., breathing, walking, and talking; or
- With a record of such a physical, mental or sensory impairment; or
- Who is regarded as having such a physical, mental or sensory impairment.

Non-Discrimination Policy

It is the policy of the County of Columbia ("County") to provide and maintain a work environment which is free from unlawful harassment and discrimination based on sex (with or without sexual conduct), race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or conviction record, genetic characteristics, and any other class protected by law (collectively referred to as "discriminatory harassment" or "harassment"). Discrimination or harassment based on these characteristics is a form of unlawful discrimination and is a form of misconduct that undermines the integrity of the employment relationship and will not be tolerated. Accordingly, such conduct is prohibited in each and every work environment and each and every situation, which directly impacts the work environment.

As such County expressly prohibits any form of employee discrimination or harassment based on race, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or an individual's status in any class protected as stated above by applicable federal, state, or local law. Improper interference with the ability of our employees to perform their expected job duties will not be tolerated.

Columbia County Discrimination and Harassment Policy (7.23)