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Council rules committee reviews harassment policy reforms; experts urge independent oversight and multiple reporting channels
Summary
The rules committee heard a legal and operational update on harassment-related reforms, including mandatory training, a new anonymous reporting platform (Speakfully), employee support services and two internal working groups. Outside experts and councilors pressed for independent investigative authority, survivor confidentiality protections, and a
Indianapolis — The Indianapolis City-County Council Rules Committee on Oct. 28 reviewed steps the city-county enterprise has taken to update workplace harassment policies and discussed potential legislative options, including a temporary ad hoc inspector general, an independent human resources board and expanded reporting channels.
Corporation Counsel Brandon Bealer told the committee that "Harassment training was made mandatory in the city code back in 2019," and that in August 2024 the mayor issued an executive order requiring annual harassment training for all employees. Bealer said the city uses an online learning system (identified in the presentation by the transcript as LisonBee) and supplements with in-person sessions for employees without email access; the current training module was issued Sept. 9 with a completion date of Nov. 30.
The city selected the third-party anonymous-reporting vendor Speakfully after demonstrations of six vendors, Bealer said, and formally launched Speakfully in January 2025. HR has promoted multiple access points (newsletters, flyers and an intranet link) and continues to offer employee assistance resources, including a 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and expanded behavioral-health appointments through the city health plan (referred to as "Marathon" in committee remarks).
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