The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is committed to maintaining a high standard of conduct in the workplace and providing a work environment free from harassing, offensive, or inappropriate conduct. Such conduct violates the fundamental dignity and mutual respect all people deserve, complicating the efficient operation of the Federal service, and posing risk to successful mission accomplishment at CMS. All CMS employees, contractors, and visitors are responsible for maintaining a high standard of conduct in the workplace and must refrain from engaging in harassing, offensive, or inappropriate activities.
The CMS Policy Statement on the Prevention of Harassing, Offensive and Inappropriate Conduct:
The Prevention of Workplace Harassment (PWH) Team is responsible for assisting the Agency in addressing allegations raised by employees who feel they have been harassed or subjected to inappropriate conduct based on the Policy Statement on the Prevention of Harassing, Offensive, and Inappropriate Conduct (PDF) . The policy defines which conduct constitutes harassing, offensive, or inappropriate behavior in the workplace; informs all CMS employees of their roles and responsibilities in the proactive prevention of workplace harassment; and clarifies how to report instances of alleged harassment.
Please note: The PWH process does not replace the EEO Complaint Process. You may avail yourself to both processes simultaneously. For more information on the EEO Complaint process please access the link below.
How to File a PWH Complaint
You can quickly and easily submit your concerns online, by email, through the PWH Hotline, or via a dedicated fax submission by following the steps below. You may submit your complaint to CMS any time, day or night. The PWH Hotline is available 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week, 365 Days a Year.
Please Note: If your concerns involve an imminent threat of violence (including sexual harassment), immediately contact security through the CMS Mega Center at 1-877-437-7411 or your local law enforcement agency at 911, especially if calling after hours. You may also contact the PWH Team, but your safety is of the utmost importance.
PWH Hotline & Dedicated Fax Submission
You have the option to call or fax us with your PWH submissions using a CMS extension or a toll-free number.
- PWH Hotline: 410-78-MY PWH (410-786-9794)
- Toll-Free PWH Hotline: 1-877-265-2401
- Dedicated PWH Fax: 1-833-982-1065
Email Submissions for PWH Complaints
You may email your PWH allegations or complaint directly to: PreventionofWorkplaceHarassmentProgram@cms.hhs.gov.
Information to Include in your submission to the PWH hotline, fax submission and/or email:
Be sure to include the information outlined below when submitting your complaint via email:
- Your Full Name and Title
- Your Home, work Phone Number, and/or cell number. If You Prefer to Be Contacted at Home, please state that preference
- Your home and work Email Address
- The CMS component, group, and division, and location (i.e., CMS Headquarters, Bethesda or CMS Regional Office, etc.).
- The Company You Work For, if other than CMS, as well as that other company’s address (if known)
- A Summary of the allegations. Please provide as much information as possible. If known, provide:
- Name of the alleged Harasser and the Title
- Date(s) Incident occurred
- Address or location where the incident(s) occurred
- Name of Your first-line supervisor
- Identify the Complainant’s Relationship to the alleged Harasser
- Summary of your concerns
What happens next?
A member of the PWH team or the Harassment Prevention Coordinator (HPC) will contact you to acknowledge receipt of your contact. The PWH team or the HPC will provide you with the next steps in addressing your concerns.
For more information, please contact the PWH Team at PreventionofWorkplaceHarassmentProgram@cms.hhs.gov . You may also contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights front office at 410-786-5110.