EEO Complaint Frequently Asked Questions. There is no chain of command when contacting the EEO Officer; an individual does not need supervisor or manager approval to do this. But overhearing office gossip about someone is not serious enough to file an EEO complaint. The most obvious types of retaliation are denial of a promotion, refusal to hire, denial of job benefits, demotion, suspension and discharge. complaint. In Table 15 (shown below) the data show EEO allegations that “went formal” (resulted in a “complaint”), were then investigated, and from there went on to an EEOC hearing. There was a finding prohibited discrimination 100 times and no discrimination 2,282 times. But, when a subordinate has filed a complaint, the supervisor does have to work a bit harder and more cautiously to avoid or successfully rebut a reprisal complaint. Generally, there are many steps to write such complaint letters. The Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) discrimination complaint process provides a means of resolving individual employment problems or class actions relating to issues involving race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age (40+), disability, genetics, and/or reprisal. Examples of this include physical or emotional pain and suffering, loss of reputation, loss of mental capacity, loss of enjoyment of life, etc. Typically, a federal employee only has 45 days from the date of discrimination in which to contact an EEO counselor at the federal agency to initiate the EEO complaint … Dear Sir or Madam, Please accept this letter as a complaint of racial discrimination by Jane Doe, an African-American female. Within 30 days of receiving the complaint, the CRC will forward the complaint and the counseling record to the EEOC for a determination on whether the class may be "certified." I will follow this memo up with a list of quality upcoming available trainings in our area or via webinar. Contact EEO Counselor Aggrieved persons who believe they have been discriminated against must contact an agency EEO counselor prior to filing a formal complaint. Before filing a retaliation complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), it is important to understand what retaliation is. What is Equal Employment Opportunity? EEO complaints in the federal sector arise in any number of ways; too many to name all of the examples here. Employers are prohibited from discriminating against an individual for a number of reasons, including their age, sex, race, nationality, religion, disability and pregnancy status. Following EEO counseling, a formal class complaint may be filed within 15 days of receipt of the Notice of Right to File. 2. You initially contacted an EEO official on (date) to initiate the pre-complaint process and, by agreeing to participate in mediation, the pre-complaint processing period was extended to 90 calendar days. The agency must complete the investigation within 180 days of the filing date. In these cases, they can choose to write a discrimination complaint letter to hr managers. The Director of EEO will acknowledge receiving the formal complaint and notify you of the claims accepted for investigation. Equal Employment Opportunity is a principle that asserts that all people should have the right to work and advance on the bases of merit and ability, regardless of their race, sex, color, religion, disability, national origin, or age. They assist in clarification when and where needed, especially when the counselor requires assistance or when the pre-complaint reaches the formal stage. Equal employment opportunity (“EEO”) laws are a set of federal laws and regulations that prohibit workplace discrimination against current and potential employees. Each of these methods is confidential, avoids an admission of liability and is enforceable in court. Knowing what questions to ask in an investigation interview comes with experience. The most common way in which a federal supervisory EEO complaint occurs is when a new supervisor moves to a new agency or new division within a previous agency and attempts to change practices and procedures. 29 C.F.R. The EEO Office. In fact, tolerating bad behavior or poor performance just because an employee has filed an EEO complaint can be harmful to the supervisor in the long run. 4. Sample Complaint Letter Ms. Marie Bobblehead EEO Officer P.O. Liquidated damages: A contractually agreed upon amount to be paid in the event of a breach of the contract, in lieu of performance or quantification of … Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Detroit District Office 477 Michigan Avenue, Room 865 Detroit, MI 48226-9704. Employees are protected from retaliation in the EEO process. This includes behavior that may leave another employee feeling afraid or violated. If the alleged offender is the employee’s supervisor or manager, the employee should report the conduct to any other supervisor, manager or the EEO Officer. This serves as notice that on (date), mediation was conducted on the claim(s) raised in your pre-complaint, which could not be fully resolved. EEO Officer. Many Australian employers develop EEO policies to promote workplace diversity and create a safe workplace for all employees. EEOC regulations require that you seek pre-complaint counseling before filing a formal complaint. The phrase hostile work environment is a civil law term that refers to the behavior of an individual in a workplace that creates an environment that makes work difficult or uncomfortable for another person. What are some examples of reprisal for having participated in EEO activity? What is the EEO complaint process? after receipt to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Office of Federal Operations, P.O. The papers are to be filed formally. EEO complaint deadline. Prior to filing an EEO complaint, a federal employee (or former employee or applicant) must first initiate contact with an EEO counselor within 45 calendar days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act or, if a personnel action is involved, within 45 calendar days of the effective date of such an action. The employee was provided with ample notice and opportunity to correct the behavior over a seven-month period. If you could not resolve your EEO matter during the informal stage (such as with traditional EEO counseling, alternative dispute resolution, etc. 1. The EEO counselor. Once the complaint has been accepted, the complaint is forwarded on to an EEO investigator, who either works directly for the Agency or works for the Agency on a contract basis. When Can the EEO Complaint be Filed. If the complaint is not resolved through traditional counseling or ADR, the aggrieved will be issued a Notice of Right to File a Formal Complaint of Discrimination. Establishing the Official Case Record. Box 1715 Somewhere, DC 20202 Re: Complaint of Discrimination Complainant v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Dear Ms. Bobblehead: Please allow this letter to serve as my complaint of discrimination against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Note: Complaint can be settled at any step of the EEO complaint process. However, to recap in context, the Report of Investigation (ROI) follows the filing of a formal Complaint and is a significant component in the EEO complaint … For example, it is unlawful to retaliate against applicants or employees for: filing or being a witness in an EEO charge, complaint, investigation, or lawsuit communicating with a supervisor or manager about employment discrimination, including harassment Section 1614.105(a)(1). Tangible employment action must be present: An example of where employees can file an EEO complaint is if a supervisor’s harassment results in tangible employment action – a significant change in employment status or benefits – (i.e. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) offers three ways to voluntarily resolve charges: mediation, settlement and conciliation. The information is based on my ten plus years of experience with the U.S. Such offensive behavior happens in many forms, including sexual harassment. “The company was surprised to receive this complaint. They are there to assist only. Asserting these EEO rights is called "protected activity," and it can take many forms. ), the EEO Counselor will close the informal period and provide you a Notice of Rights giving you 15 days to file your Formal Complaint of Discrimination. They involve taking several forms and filling them through hr managers. Equal Employment Opportunity is fair treatment in employment, promotion, training, and other personnel actions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, … Yes. And that basis is “reprisal for previous EEO activity,” usually previously filing a discrimination complaint claiming some other basis for discrimination: race, sex, age, whatever. So, if you are thinking of writing a complaint letter, do it formally. Box 19848, Washington, DC 20036. Complaint of Discrimination I, XXX, allege that I was harassed and treated differently and adversely by my first line supervisor, Mr. XXX based on my sex, female; age, 54 (DOB, XXX); and in retaliation for filing a formal complaint of discrimination on July 16, 2007, as follows: We previously covered the EEO Complaint process, which can be very confusing to the uninitiated. 3. Additionally, I recommend that all persons involved in EEO complaint-receipt, investigations, or determinations attend formal training on EEO and SHP compliance issues. They are never to put words in an aggrieved person's mouth or write their claim for them. Filing the Formal Complaint. This article is a summary of my professional responses to the most frequently asked questions by employees who are thinking of filing an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaint. The person must initiate counselor contact within 45 days of the matter alleged to be discriminatory. 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