Human Resources

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

About EEO

Structure:

The concept of equal treatment and nondiscrimination under the law applies not only to PSC employees and the employees of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and applicants for employment, but also to the population we serve as employees of the Department and to the people with whom we do business.

The structure of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (OEEO) is typical of most federal EEO offices in that it consists of 3 basic programs. These are:

• The affirmative employment program
• The special emphasis/diversity programs
• The discrimination complaints program

The affirmative employment program encourages and assists the agency in voluntarily taking affirmative steps to correct the effects of past discrimination and preventing present and future discrimination without resorting to litigation or other formal governmental action. This program also deals with the DHHS and PSC goal of having a fully representative workforce which includes members of all racial and ethnic groups as well as people with disabilities.

The special emphasis/diversity programs are designed to deal with the special needs of particular groups and to foster a working environment in which employees treat each other with respect and dignity and value the differences in backgrounds that each employee brings to the workplace. These programs may include the Hispanic Employment Program, the Federal Women's Program, and the People with Disabilities Program. Also included, but more informally organized are programs that deal with the concerns of African Americans, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, and American Indians/Alaskan Natives.

The discrimination complaints program seeks to identify and eliminate discriminatory policies and practices from the workforce based on race, national origin, color, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and/or reprisal. This program promotes the early resolution of complaints of discrimination, and provides for the prompt, fair and impartial processing of discrimination complains.

The common thread joining these programs is that they focus on the human resources of the PSC. These programs strive to eradicate every form of prejudice and discrimination in the work place as well as to afford equal treatment and opportunities for employees and applicants to enable them to develop successful careers with the Federal Government.

Vision:

The vision of OEEO is to achieve a workplace free from discrimination and harassment where every employee is valued for his/her unique contribution towards achieving the PSC's goals.

Mission:

The mission of the OEEO is to:

• Promote and ensure equal opportunity for all employees and foster an agency culture and environment free from discrimination.
• Work in partnership with management and employees to create and implement innovative and effective affirmative employment programs and dispute resolution processes.
• Ensure full utilization of a diverse workforce in carrying out the PSC business plan and provide quality and timely services to its customers.