Message from the Director: Zero Tolerance for Harassment and Discrimination

At the Central Intelligence Agency, every employee should be treated with dignity and respect and afforded a work environment free of harassment in any form. The CIA has zero tolerance for harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including gender identity and pregnancy), national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, status as a parent, retaliation for previous EEO activity, or any other factor unrelated to merit.

I am personally committed to enforcing this policy, which ultimately depends on every Agency officer upholding the highest standards of professionalism. Indeed, we must work together to maintain an atmosphere in which words or actions that could harm a colleague and undermine his or her career are completely unacceptable. We cannot allow harassment or discrimination to diminish any officer’s contributions to our mission.

The Agency’s Office of Equal Employment Opportunity provides oversight and guidance for the harassment and discrimination complaint process. Any employee who is the target of harassment or discrimination—or who witnesses such behavior—should contact his or her supervisor or an EEO representative immediately. The supervisor is responsible for protecting the integrity of the complaints process by addressing issues promptly, and by shielding those involved from acts of reprisal.

I will hold managers at every level accountable for maintaining these standards. I also expect every officer to live our values: implicit trust and support for our brother and sister officers, mutual respect for each other’s beliefs and backgrounds, and unity of purpose and effort. These principles are essential to our success as an Agency, and I appreciate all that you do to live and promote them.

David H. Petraeus

Director