The National Transportation Safety Board creates and maintains a work environment to maximize the potential of all employees. At the Board, we encourage trust, respect, and open communication that will foster and promote a positive and productive work environment.  Our highly skilled diverse workforce is committed to enhancing the safety of the Nation’s Transportation systems. Equal Employment Opportunity at the NTSB is also a continuing commitment. To maintain neutrality in resolving disputes, the EEO Office is independent of any other NTSB office. The EEO Director reports to the Chairman of the Board.

Information for:

• NTSB employees
• Former NTSB Employees
• Applicants for NTSB Employment

The primary purpose of the Act is to improve federal agency accountability for violations of the anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws related to employment and to ensure that employees, applicants for employment, and former employees are notified of their rights under anti-discrimination laws and the Whistleblower Protection Act.

Click the link to view and download the Complete Text of the No Fear Act (in PDF format)   .

Personnel actions affecting any term or condition of employment may not be based on an individual's:

• Race
• Color
• National origin
• Religion
• Sex (including pregnancy and childbirth)
• Age (40 years or more)
• Disability (physical or mental)
• Participation in the EEO process
• Opposition to employment discrimination

Hostile work environment discrimination (harassment) is prohibited
Employees may not be subjected to unwelcome conduct in the course of employment because of their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or disability.
Employees may not be subjected to unwelcome conduct in the course of employment because they have participated in the EEO process or expressed their opposition to employment discrimination.

Retaliation is prohibited
Participation in the EEO process, and opposition to discrimination are protected activities; therefore employees subjected to harm in the form of adverse employment practices or decisions or harassment have the right to file complaints of discrimination.

Other personnel practices prohibited by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. § 2302) and Executive Order 11478
In addition to the prohibitions contained in anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws, under merit system principles no personnel action in the federal government may be based on an individual's:

• Marital status
• Political affiliation
• Sexual orientation
• Conduct not adversely affecting job performance.

Reasonable accommodation for disability and for religion
The Board provides reasonable accommodation for employees or applicants with physical or mental disabilities who request it to perform the duties of a position or to participate in the application process. The Board also provides reasonable accommodation for the religious practices and beliefs of employees and applicants.

Federal Anti-discrimination Laws and Executive Orders

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e   
• Equal Pay Act of 1963, 29 U.S.C. § 206(d)   
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, 29 U.S.C. § 621   
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Sections 501 and 505, 29 U.S.C. § 791
• Titles I and V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42 U.S.C. § 12101   
• Civil Rights Act of 1991, 42 U.S.C. § 1981
• Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, 5 U.S.C.§ 2302   

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)    has the authority to establish the procedures federal agencies use to process complaints of employment discrimination made by applicants or employees who believe they have been discriminated against in violation of those Federal anti-discrimination laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, or disability or retaliation for participating in the EEO process or opposing employment discrimination.

• EEOC's regulations for the Federal administrative complaint process are published in the Code of Federal Regulations at 29 CFR 1614   .
• The CFTC's administrative complaint process is conducted by its EEO office in compliance with EEOC regulations and directives.

Time limit: Process must begin within 45 days of discriminatory act

To preserve their rights under EEO laws, applicants for employment and employees are required to contact a CFTC EEO Counselor in a timely manner.

• Timely contact means making the contact within 45 calendar days from the day the individual learned of the matter believed to have been employment discrimination.
• Applicants may contact the EEO office to initiate EEO Counseling

EEO counseling

EEO counseling is required before a formal complaint of discrimination may be filed. Individuals must cooperate in good faith with the EEO counseling process to preserve their rights to access the formal EEO complaint process. During EEO counseling, the EEO counselor provides information about legal rights and responsibilities related to the administrative complaint process. Attempts to resolve disputes will be made by an EEO counselor or through the NTSB's Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program. EEO counseling usually takes from 30 to 90 days.

EEO mediation

Alternative Dispute Resolution is an option available during the EEO counseling process. ADR is voluntary and mediation must be requested by the individual being counseled.

Formal complaints of discrimination

Formal complaints may be filed only after an individual has completed the EEO counseling process.

• Notice given at the end of EEO counseling or mediation explains the requirements for filing complaints of discrimination.
• Detailed information about the formal complaint process is published in EEOC regulations 29 CFR 1614.106-110.   

• Fara Denise Guest, EEO Program Director
• Special Emphasis Program Manager, Mary Jones (202) 314-6443
• Hispanic Program Manager, Yvette Delgado (202) 314-6157

EEO Counselors are external contractors
For Counseling Services please contact the EEO Office at 202-314-6190