EEO Counseling Program
Region 1 EEO Counseling Program Vision
To assist management, current and former employees, and applicants
in effectively resolving issues, stemming from and pursuant to Title
VII concerns, at the lowest possible level, and at the least cost to
all parties.
Service's
EEO Poster (PDF File 2.80 MB)
DOI Designation of
Representation Form (PDF File 32 KB)
Claimant's Rights & Responsibilities (PDF
File 56 KB)
DOI - Request for ADR Form (PDF
File 48 KB)
Counseling Election
Form (PDF File 56 KB)
This section outlines employment protections based upon the following authorities:
Section 717 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which
prohibits discrimination against applicants and employees
based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin and reprisal for participating
in a protected EEO activity;
Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 as amended to the Civil
Rights Act of 1964;
Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Titles I and V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) as
amended, which prohibit employment discrimination on the
basis of disability (mental and physical);
Section 15 of the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act (ADEA), which prohibits employment discrimination based on
age (40 or older); Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended (Equal Pay
Act of 1963 [EPA]) which prohibits sex-based wage discrimination;
Civil Rights Act of 1991;29 CFR Part 1614 and Management Directive (MD) 110 governing Federal Sector Equal Employment Opportunity Programs. MD 110 provides information on the pre-complaint process and Alternative Dispute Resolution options available to all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees and applicants for employment.
The Department of the Interior expanded its Equal Opportunity Policy to include sexual orientation as a basis for filing discrimination complaints as it relates to all matters of employment (see Sexual Orientation section below).
Applicability: The procedures for filing complaints of discrimination apply to all employees, applicants for employment, and beneficiaries of services.
Filing a Claim of Discrimination
Employees or applicants who believe they have been a victim
of unlawful discrimination by any Region 1 U.S. FWS employee, manager,
supervisor, or beneficiary must contact the Region's EEO counselor, Dianne
Whitney, within 45 calendar days from the date they knew or should
have known of the event or incident giving rise to their claims. The
Regional Counselor will advise the claimant of his or her rights and
responsibilities in the EEO complaint process and procedures for filing
a claim. The Regional Counselor will also assist the claimaint in identifying
the issues and basis(es) of the claim based upon the information provided
by the claimant. The claimant has the option to engage in the traditional
EEO counseling process or may elect to use the Alternative Dispute Resolution
(ADR) process if offered.
Traditional EEO Pre-Complaint Counseling
The Regional EEO Counselor is an impartial fact finder who
assists claimants and management in seeking resolution of the issuse
at the lowest possible level; and ensures the rights of all participants
are equally protected in the complaint process.
The Regional EEO Counselor is an impartial fact finder whose main goal is to seek a resolution at the lowest possible level.
If resolution attempts are unsuccessful, the Regional EEO Counselor conducts a final interview with the claimant. The counselor will inform the Claimant of the inquiry results and will issue the claimant a formal complaint form (DI-1892) and the Notice of Final Interview (NOFI)/Right to File a Formal Complaint letter that outlines the EEO formal complaint process and time frame for pursuing her/his concerns at the formal level.
Upon receipt of the NOFI, the claimant has 15 calendar days to file a formal complaint of discrimination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs, Washington, D.C.