Thank you for signing!
Heal Sexual Harassment Victims of the National Parks Service!
Final signature count: 5,994
5,994 signatures toward our 30,000 goal
Sponsor: The Breast Cancer Site
Tell the National Parks Service that they must take care of the women they allowed to be harassed.
Since its inception in 1916, the National Parks Service (NPS) has grown into a network of beautiful locations visited by about 275 million people each year.
In its wake, the NPS has left behind countless female victims.
Female employees of the NPS have for years entered work environments where the “good ol’ boy” mentality remains prevalent. Not only has this left women vulnerable to sexual harassment; it has left women traumatized, and in fear of losing their job1.
Some women, who spent years of their lives dreaming, and working toward, a job in the NPS, are left fearing what they once loved most: the outdoors2.
At Yosemite National Park alone, 18 employees have come forward with allegations of harassment or misconduct “so severe that a recent report labeled working conditions at the park ‘toxic3.’”
The problem extends much further than just Yosemite. It extends into many of the agency’s hundreds of parks.
A technical report issued by the NPS found that a full 37% of of employees experienced some form of harassment and/or assault related behaviors in the 12 months before being surveyed for the report4.
For some employees, these experiences had a negative impact on their interpersonal relationships with coworkers, supervisors, or managers; resulted in arguments or damaged interpersonal relations at work; and/or damaged other personal relationships. These experiences also had a negative impact on the physical or emotional well-being of some employees, leading them to call in sick or take leave, seek counseling, or medical attention4.
No human being should be subjected to such behavior in the workplace.
The NPS is currently under widespread investigation, yet there is no program within the service that attempts to heal the wounds of victims harassed, and silenced, during their time with the organization.
These women need a place to turn, and it’s beyond unacceptable for the NPS to fail them once more. Sign below to urge the Director of the NPS to develop and implement a program to help these victims of sexual harassment find justice and healing.
