Complaints of Employment Discrimination

• The informal process, also called EEO Counseling, provides an opportunity to define the complainant's concerns, obtain information necessary to address the issues, and attempt to resolve the issues informally. This process is administered by the NTSB EEO Director. You must complete EEO counseling before filing a formal complaint.
• The formal EEO complaint process is a legal procedure for the consideration of claims of employment discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, and disability. Claims of retaliation for opposing these types of discrimination or for participating in the EEO complaint process can also be raised. If a complaint meets procedural requirements established by regulation, an investigation is conducted. In most cases, complainants may also elect to have a hearing before an EEOC Administrative Judge. The formal complaint process ends when the NTAB issues a Final Agency Decision (FAD) on the complaint.
• The appeal process allows complainants to appeal FADs to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Merit decisions in mixed case complaints -- complaints on issues that are appealable to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) -- are first appealed to the MSPB.

If you believe you have been discriminated against because of your race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or retaliation when applying for a job with the NTSB, or while on the job at the NTSB, you may initiate a discrimination complaint by contacting the NTSB EEO Director at (202) 314-6190. 

Time limits

To preserve their rights under EEO laws, individuals who want to initiate a discrimination complaint must contact the NTSB EEO Director within 45 calendar days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act or matter.  The EEO Director will assign an EEO Counselor to attempt resolution of your allegations.

EEO counseling

EEO counseling is required before a formal written complaint of discrimination may be filed.  Individuals must cooperate in good faith with the EEO counseling process to preserve their right to access the formal EEO complaint process. During EEO counseling, the EEO counselor attempts to resolve the matter and provides information about complainants’ rights and responsibilities related to the administrative complaint process.  To request assignment of an EEO Counselor contact the EEO Director at 202-314-6190.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

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

Formal Complaints of Discrimination

If the EEO Counselor’s attempts to resolve your allegations have been unsuccessful, the EEO Counselor will provide you a written Notice of Final Interview, and right to file a formal discrimination complaint.  You have 15 days from the date of receipt of this notice to submit a written discrimination complaint by mail or in person, to the EEO Director. Please note that complaints must be signed and in writing. The mailing address for correspondence is:

National Transportation Safety Board
Office of Equal Employment Opportunity
490 L’ Enfant Plaza E. SW
Washington, DC 20594

EEOC regulations governing the Federal administrative EEO complaint process

• 29 CFR 1614, at http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/1614-final.html