The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVE
EEO MD - 110
EFFECTIVE DATE: November 9, 1999
TO THE HEADS OF FEDERAL AGENCIES
- SUBJECT. FEDERAL SECTOR COMPLAINTS PROCESSING MANUAL
- PURPOSE. The purpose of this Directive is to provide federal agencies with Commission
policies, procedures, and guidance relating to the processing of employment discrimination
complaints governed by the Commission's regulations in 29 C.F.R. Part 1614.
Federal agencies covered by 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 are responsible for developing and
implementing their own equal employment programs, including alternative dispute resolution
programs, and complaint processing procedures consistent with the Commission's regulations.
It is the Commission's responsibility to direct and further the implementation of the policy of
the government of the United States to provide equal opportunity in federal employment and
to prohibit discrimination in employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
age, disability, or retaliation. Pursuant to its obligations and statutory authority, the
commission issues such rules, regulations, orders, and instructions, including management
directives, as it deems necessary and appropriate to carry out its responsibilities to
communicate federal equal employment opportunity management policy, requirements,
guidance and information to federal agencies. The Commission's instructions are directive in
nature, and heads of federal agencies are responsible for prompt and effective compliance with
Commission Management Directives and Bulletins.
This complaint processing manual will ensure that agency personnel responsible for complaints
processing are in possession of all current Commission guidance materials so that the
Commission's policies, procedures, and regulations are consistently and uniformly applied
government-wide. The manual consists of several chapters with subject matter headings
identified in the table of contents. Some chapters are issued in connection with specific
sections of the regulations. Other chapters include guidance and direction on topics, which we
know from our experience processing complaints under previous regulations, are needed and
are applicable to Part 1614. The manual will be supplemented by new and revised materials,
as they are issued. The manual has been prepared in loose leaf form to facilitate the insertion
of new and the removal of outdated materials. The Commission is hopeful that this manual
will be helpful to federal agency personnel in administering the discrimination complaint
process.
- SUPERSESSION. The directive superceded EEO MD - 110 issued November 10, 1992, and
EEO MD - 110 Change One, issued October 16, 1995.
- AUTHORITY. This Directive is issued pursuant to EEOC's obligations and authority under
section 717 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-16;
sections 501 and 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. §§ 791 and
794a; section 15 of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, 29
U.S.C. § 633a; section 6(d) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended (the Equal
Pay Act), 29 U.S.C. § 206(d); Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978, 3 C.F.R. § 321(1078) and
Executive Order 11478, 3. C.F.R. § 803 (1966-1970 Compilation) reprinted in 42 U.S.C. §
2000e note, issued in 1969 and 12106, 44 Fed. Reg. 1053 (1979).
- POLICY INTENT. The policy objective of this Directive is to ensure that federal agency
personnel responsible for processing employment discrimination complaints do so consistently
and in accordance with the Commission's regulations set out in 29 C.F.R. Part 1614, and with
the guidance, policies, and procedures contained in this Directive and in the attached manual.
- APPLICABILITY AND SCOPE. The provisions of this Directive apply to all Federal
agencies covered by 29 C.F.R. Part 1614
- RESPONSIBILITIES. Heads of federal agencies are responsible for ensuring that
employment discrimination complaints are processed fairly, promptly, and in strict accordance
with the complaint processing procedures set out in 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 and with the guidance
incorporated in paragraph eight of this Directive. Since the commission's guidance is binding
in nature, federal agencies are required to comply with it.
- POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. The Commission's specific policies, procedures and
guidance related to the processing of federal sector employment discrimination complaints are
contained in this Complaints Processing Manual. All statements of guidance upon which the
Commission votes and which the Commission approves becomes Commission guidance. Care
has been taken to delineate any agency action which is suggested rather than required by
Commission policy. All time frames stated herein are in calendar days.
- INQUIRIES. Unless otherwise specifically noted in the manual, further information
concerning this Directive or guidance contained in the attached manual may be obtained by
contacting:
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Office of Federal Operations
Federal Sector Programs
1801 L Street, N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20507
Telephone: (202) 663-4599
TDD: (202) 663-4593
_______________________ ____________________________
Date Ida L. Castro
Chairwoman
Management Directive MD-110
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