Policy and Responsibilities for Equal Opportunity Complaints and Adjudication

1.1 What is the purpose of this chapter? This chapter:

A. Lists the authorities and defines the terms employees need to know to understand this and other chapters in Part 061, Complaint Processing and Adjudication in the Service,

B. Describes the responsibilities for complaint processing and adjudication, and

C. Lists our reporting requirements for equal opportunity complaints.

1.2 What is the scope of this chapter? This chapter applies to:

A. Service employees,

B. Applicants for employment with the Service, and

C. Former employees.

1.3 What are the authorities for the chapters in Part 061?

A. Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (Public Law 88-352).

B. Civil Rights Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-166).

C. Federal Sector Equal Employment Opportunity Regulations (29 CFR 1614).

D. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 – 12213).

E. Equal Employment Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-261).

F. Rehabilitation Act Amendment of 1974 (P.L. 93-516).

G. Affirmative Employment Programs (5 CFR 720).

H. Regulations on Nondiscrimination; Equal Employment Opportunity (28 CFR 42).

I. Regulations for the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (29 CFR 1620).

J. Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-433).

K. Guidelines on Discrimination Because of Sex (29 CFR 1604).

L. Executive Orders 11478, 13087, and 13152, Equal Employment Opportunity in the Federal Government.

M. Executive Order 13145, To Prohibit Discrimination in Federal Employment Based on Genetic Information.

N. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Management Directive 110.

O. U.S. Department of the Interior Equal Opportunity Directive 2003-05, Settlement Agreements.

1.4 What terms do you need to know to understand this and the other chapters in Part 061, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Complaint Processing and Adjudication?

A. Aggrieved Person. An aggrieved person is an employee, applicant, or former employee who:

(1) Believes that he/she/they has been discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, reprisal (involvement in the EEO process or opposition to discriminatory practices), sexual orientation, family status, or genetic information, and

(2) Has consulted with an EEO counselor to resolve the matter on an informal basis.

B. Class Complaint. A class complaint is a complaint filed by a group of employees, applicants for employment, or former employees who allege that they have been, are being, or may be, adversely affected by a discriminatory personnel management policy or practice. A class agent is the person who acts for the members in the class complaint.

C. Complainant. A complainant is an employee, an applicant for employment, or former employee who:

(1) Believes that he/she/they has been discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, reprisal, sexual orientation, family status, or genetic information, and

(2) Has filed a formal complaint of discrimination.

D. Discrimination. Discrimination:

(1) Is an act or acts that adversely affect the employment opportunities of one or more individuals because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, reprisal, sexual orientation, family status, or genetic information.

(2) May be either intentional or unintentional.

E. Reprisal. Reprisal is interference with, coercion of, or discrimination against an aggrieved person or complainant, his/her/their representative, or witness(es) who are involved in any stage in the presentation and processing of a complaint.

F. Resolution is when the Service and an aggrieved person/complainant resolve a complaint at any time during the processing of the complaint. Either party may offer the terms of the agreement.

G. Sexual Harassment. Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, when one of the following conditions is met:

(1) Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly as terms or a condition of an individual’s employment;

(2) Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting that individual; or

(3) Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.

1.5 Who is responsible for processing EEO complaints in the Service?

A. The Director is responsible for providing a discrimination/harassment-free work environment for our employees. 

B. The Assistant Director – Budget, Planning and Human Resources ensures there is Servicewide policy in place for the program.

C. Assistant Directors and Regional Directors ensure the effective administration of complaints processing and adjudication in the areas for which they are responsible.

D. The Chief, Branch of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (EOD) (EEO Officer):

(1) Is responsible for managing the Complaints Processing and Adjudication Program within the Service,

(2) Monitors and tracks Regional and Servicewide complaints activity and develops required reports (see section 1.6),

(3) Coordinates the investigation of all formal complaints and the preparation of the investigative reports,

(4) Coordinates and prepares all required Service documentation and arrangements to address appeals and hearings, and

(5) Oversees EEO counseling activities for Headquarters.

E. The Regional Chiefs, Division of Diversity and Civil Rights:

(1) Are responsible for the coordination of complaints processing program activities within their areas of responsibility, and

(2) Attempt to resolve complaints by using mediation and other alternative dispute resolution methods (also see 061 FW 3).

F. Equal Employment Opportunity Counselors in the Branch of Equal Opportunity and Diversity and the Regional Divisions of Diversity and Civil Rights and collateral duty counselors:

(1) Provide EEO counseling and guidance to aggrieved employees, applicants, and former employees, and

(2) Are responsible for mediation and complaint resolution.

1.6 What are the Service’s reporting requirements for equal opportunity complaints? The Branch of EOD regularly prepares three reports for the Department’s Office of Civil Rights. Table 1-1 summarizes the reports.

Table 1-1: Summary of EEO Reports