USDA prohibits discrimination against its employees. USDA
employees and applicants for employment who believe they have
been subjected to employment discrimination based on race,
color, religion, sex (including gender identity and expression), national origin, age (if 40 or over),
disability, reprisal (for prior participation in an EEO activity
or having opposed discrimination), political affiliation,
sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, or genetic
information, have the right to file an Equal Employment Opportunity
(EEO) complaint.
The EEO complaint process consists of the informal process,
and the formal process. If you wish to file an EEO complaint,
you must begin with the informal process.
Informal EEO Complaint Process
You must contact an EEO Counselor within 45 days of the date
of the alleged discriminatory act, event, or in the case of
a personnel action. Contact the EEO Counselor that services
the agency or office you believe discriminated against you.
EEO
Counselors List (PDF 83KB)
The EEO Counselor will:
If the complaint is not resolved to the satisfaction of all
parties during the informal EEO complaint process, the counselor
will issue the employee a "NOTICE OF RIGHT TO FILE
(NRF)" a formal EEO complaint. The Notice will explain
how and where to file your formal EEO complaint. A Complaint
of Employment Discrimination Form will be provided with your
NRF. Upon receipt of this Notice, you will have 15 calendar
days to file a formal EEO complaint.
Formal EEO Complaint Process
If your complaint is not resolved during the informal complaint
process, you have the right to file a Formal EEO Complaint.
You must file a Formal EEO Complaint within 15 days
from the receipt of the Notice of Right to file a formal EEO
complaint. Your written complaint must be a signed
and dated statement that includes all of the following information:
Mail your formal EEO complaint to the USDA Office of Adjudication at one of the following addresses: