EEO Reprisal
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Description: This is a review of and update on EEO Reprisal. Among others, the topics addressed include the definition of reprisal, the two kinds of EEO reprisal, the distinction between EEO and other kinds of reprisal (e.g., whistleblower, union, etc.), the way that reprisal is proven, the defenses to reprisal, relief for proven reprisal, Dos and Don’ts to avoid reprisal, and an analysis of recent case law, to include recent Supreme Court decisions.
Length: 2 or 4 hours.
PART 1: INTRODUCTION 1
Bases Of Discrimination 2
PART 2: THE EEO LAWS 3
A. The Four EEO Laws 3
1. Title VII (race, color, sex, religion, national origin) 3
2. The Rehabilitation Act (disability) 4
3. Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age) 4
4. Equal Pay Act (equal pay for equal work) 4
B. Two Family Leave Laws (and an Executive Order) 5
1. The Family and Medical Leave Act 5
2. The Federal Employees Family Friendly Leave Act 6
3. Executive Order (an extra 24 hours of LWOP) 7
4. Executive Order (No Discrimination Against Parents) 7
5. Executive Order (No Genetic Testing Discrimination) 7
PART 3: THE THEORIES 8
I. The Theories 8
A. Title VII 8
1. Disparate Treatment 8
2. Accommodation (religion) 11
3. Retaliation 13
a. Proving retaliation 13
4. Disparate Impact 15
5. National Origin 15
a. Speak English only 15
b. Foreign accent 16
PART 4: RETALIATION 17
Overview 17
I. What is EEO-Based Retaliation 18
A. Participation Retaliation 19
1. The federal sector EEO process 19
2. Participation in the EEO process 20
B. Opposition Retaliation 21
1. Only a “good-faith” belief is required 21
2. The manner of opposition must be reasonable 22
C. Retaliatory Harassment 23
D. Representation and Official Time 24
1. Official time for complainants 24
2. Official time for representatives 25
II. What Supervisors Must Do 26
PART 5: FEDERAL SECTOR DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS 30
I. DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS 30
A. Adverse Actions 30
B. Process for Taking an Adverse Action 30
The Douglas Penalty Factors 31
PART 6: EEO COUNSELING – AN OVERVIEW 33
• The Six Duties of an EEO Counselor 33
I. Contacting the EEO Counselor 34
II. EEO Counseling 34
PART 7: WHISTLEBLOWER REPRISAL 35
PART 8: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES AND PROCESSES 36
I. Introduction 36
II. The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) 36
III. Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) 36
IV. Grievance Arbitration 36
V. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 37
VI. Office Of Special Counsel (OSC) 37
PART 9: SEXUAL ORIENTATION DISCRIMINATION 38
PART 10: PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO
RETALIATION COMPLAINTS 39
PART 11: EXERCISES AND NEW LAW 41
Retaliation Exercise 41
Workplace issues Discussions 44
NO FEAR 46
