Of the formal complaints filed, on average, retaliation was the most frequent basis for these complaints. Image: George Burns/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe Agriculture Department has increased its EEO staff since 2022 but it still lacks oversight of many indicators of how well it is preventing and addressing workplace discrimination, the GAO has said.
It said that formal EEO complaints decreased from 506 in 2015 to 306 in 2023, which the agency attributes to factors including more use of mediation and alternative dispute resolution. However, GAO said that the USDA has not consistently monitored the use of such techniques since a 2018 reorganization.
GAO said that a decrease in complaints “may not always indicate improvement. For example, fear of retaliation could prevent complaint filing. Of the formal complaints filed, on average, retaliation was the most frequent basis for these complaints.”
Similarly, it said that while the USDA’s efforts to address discrimination in the workplace include requiring its components to develop civil rights training plans, the headquarters civil rights office has not been reviewing them as departmental policy requires. Also, the USDA lacks a “method for consistently collecting anonymous employee perspectives on discrimination,” which the EEOC identifies as a best practice, the report said, since a general survey it uses lacks questions specific to its work environment.
Management agreed with recommendations to address those issues, noting that it already is updating a policy on reviewing sub-agency training programs.
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