Equal Employment Opportunity Program

Your Right to Equal Opportunity (PDF 229KB)
Agency Alternate Dispute Resolution Program (PDF 86KB)

Federal discrimination laws cover all FEMA personnel, including DAES and applicants for employment. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides protection from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, and retaliation. Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 added individuals with disabilities to this list. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, prohibits age discrimination in the federal sector.

The Complaints and Resolution Section Of the Office of Equal Rights provides a variety of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) services to FEMA Managers and Employees (including applicants for employment).

EEO Counseling - Provides oversight of all EEO Counseling for Headquarters, Regional Offices, Fixed Facilities, and Disaster Related Activities. Maintains a staff of collateral duty EEO Counselors and Equal Rights Officers to perform counseling services.

The counselor is not a representative or advocate of the aggrieved person or of management. The counselor acts as a neutral party whose function is to make inquiries to uncover the facts.

Alternative Dispute Resolution - Alternative Dispute Resolution services are utilized when individuals have indicated the willingness to participate, and/or issues are identified which lend themselves to an opportunity for positive results.

Conflict Resolution and Management - This program is designed and committed to assisting with problems before they become formal complaints. Office staff regularly visits the field to update managers on policy and to deal with specific concerns. Informal dispute procedures are available to help contending parties with workplace conflict and resolution.

Complaints Processing - Responsible for processing formal complaints of discrimination including acknowledgement, acceptance/dismissal, investigations, compliance with hearing and appeal procedures, and issuing final agency decisions.

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Last Modified: Thursday, 31-Jul-2008 16:00:19 EDT