Fedweek

The EEOC is considering revamping its processes for handling discrimination complaints from federal employees, a system that long has been plagued with backlogs and complaints about its length and complexity. In a notice in the February 6 Federal Register, EEOC said the process essentially dates back to rules of the old Civil Service Commission that EEOC took over in 1979—and some elements go as far back as the Truman administration. The process involves counseling, filing of a complaint with the agency accused of discrimination, investigation of the complaint by that agency, a hearing at the complainant’s request, an agency final decision, and an optional appeal to an EEOC hearing officer, and then beyond to the full EEOC and potentially into the federal courts, with appeals to the MSPB or through union grievance procedures also possible in certain circumstances.