EEO for Supervisors and Managers

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EEO Update

EEO for Supervisors and Managers

EEO for Employees

Prevention of Sexual Harassment for Employees

Prevention of Sexual Harassment for Managers and Supervisors Prevention of Sexual Harassment (Mock Hearing)

Prevention of Harassment

Disability Discrimination

Reprisal

EEO for Counselors

Refresher for Counselors

EEO for Investigators

EEO Advocacy

No FEAR Act

Mediation of disputes (with emphasis on EEO)

Affirmative Action

EEO for Advisory Panels

(ALL LIVE)
Home Page > Courses > EEO > EEO Update

EEO Update

Description: Review of recent EEOC and court cases (e.g., last year or so). Emphasis on EEO’s most frequent issues and bases, to include harassment, sexual harassment, reprisal, non selection and disability. This class is often taught for agency EEO, Legal and HR staff. It has also been taught as the 8-hour continuing training requirement for EEO Counselors.

Length: 1 day

Table of Contents

Topic Page

Alternative Dispute Resolution 1

Age Discrimination 1

I.  Proof of Age Discrimination 1

A.  In General 1

B.  Direct Evidence of Age Discrimination 5

C.  Disparate Impact 6

D.  Discrimination Within the Protected Age Group 6

II.  The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) 7

III.  Liquidated Damages 9

IV.  Taxation Issues 9

Attorney Fees 10

I.  Prevailing Party 10

II.  Hours Claimed 10

III.  Rate Claimed 11

IV.  Lack of Success Reductions; Across-the Board Reductions 12

V.  Fee Enhancement 16

VI.  Age Plus Other Bases of Discrimination 17

VII.  No Fees for Pursuit of a Criminal Action Against the Alleged Harasser 17

VIII.  Attorney Cannot Unilaterally File an Appeal With the Commission 17

IX.  Taxation Issues 18

Award Claims 18

Class Actions 19

I.  Certification of a Class 19

II.  Provisional Certification of a Class 20

III.  Denial of Class Certification 21

IV.  Agency Cannot Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim 23

V.  Settlement of Class Actions 23

Compensatory Damages 24

I.  Up to $5,000 24

II.  $5,001 to $10,000 27

III.  $10,001 to $50,000 30

IV.  $50,001 to $100,000 35

V.  Over $100,000 39

VI.  Compensatory Damages Denied 43

VII.  Large Awards Without Medical Evidence of Harm 44

VIII.  Loss of Earnings Capacity (and Front Pay) 45

IX.  “Good Faith” Disability Exclusion 46

X.  De Novo Court Review of Amount 47

Constructive Discharge 48

Constitutional Issues 50

I.  The First Amendment – Protected Speech 50

Disability Discrimination 52

I.  Disability or Not? 52

A.  Specific Disabilities 52

1.  Alcoholism 52

2.  Allergic Reaction 52

3.  Arthritis 52

4.  Asthma 52

5.  Attention Deficit Disorder 53

6.  Back Injuries 54

7.  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome 55

8.  Degenerative Disc Disease 56

9.  Diabetes 57

10.  Depression and Anxiety 60

11.  Drug Use 61

12.  Hearing Loss 62

13.  Lupus 62

14.  Migraine Headaches 62

15.  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 64

16.  Sarcoidosis (an inflammatory disease) 64

17.  Seeing 65

18.  Seizure Disorders (“Epilepsy”) 65

19.  Sensitivity to Fragrance 65

20.  Speaking 66

21.  Stress 67

22.  Touretts Syndrome 67

B.  Major Life Activities 68

1.  Concentration 68

2.  Eating 69

3.  Interacting With Others 69

4.  Lifting 70

5.  Reading 71

6.  Reproduction / Sexual Activity 71

7.  Seeing 72

8.  Sleeping 76

9.  Speaking 77

10.  Traveling 77

11.  Walking 78

12.  Working 79

13.  Other 80

C.  Perceived or Regarded as Having a Disability 81

D.  Notice to Agency of Disability 85

E.  Temporary Disabilities 87

F.  Is an Individual Required to Get Treatment That Would

Correct Their Disability? 88

II.  Qualified Individual With a Disability 88

III.  Reasonable Accommodation 89

A.  Specific Disabilities 89

1.  Alcoholism 89

2.  Asthma 89

3.  Back Injuries 90

4.  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome 91

5.  Hearing Impairments 91

6.  Lupus 94

7.  Mobility Impairments 95

8.  Psychiatric Impairments 96

9.  Seeing Impairments 97

10.  Sleep Disorders 97

B.  Specific Accommodations 98

1.  Arriving at Work Whenever Complainant is Able (Frequent 98

Unplanned Absences)

2.  Chairs and Sitting 100

3.  Job Coach 101

4.  Light Duty 102

5.  Parking Space 103

6.  Providing a New Supervisor 104

7.  Reassignment 104

8.  Work at Home 108

9.  Essential Job Functions 109

C.  No Request for an Accommodation 111

D.  No Nexus Between Requested Accommodation and Disability 111

E.  Not Entitled to Personal Use Items 112

F.  An Employee is Not Entitled to the Accommodation of His 113

or Her Choice if the Accommodation is Otherwise Reasonable

IV.  Direct Threat; Risk of Harm Defense 116

V.  Qualification Standards 125

VI.  Proof (Reasonable Accommodation and Disparate Treatment) 126

VII.  Inquiry Discrimination 127

VIII.  Confidentiality of Medical Records 135

IX.  Fitness for Duty Examinations 141

X.  Misconduct Exclusion 147

XI.  The Interactive Process 148

XII.  Nexus Between Disability and Requested Accommodation 150

XIII.  Delay to Determine Medical Condition 151

XIV.  Training as Part of a Remedy for Disability Discrimination 151

XV.  Collateral Attack on the OWCP Process 152

XVI.  Required to Get Treatment That Would Eliminate the Disability? 153

XVII.  Association With an Individual With a Disability 154

XVIII. Retaliation for Filing a Disability EEO Complaint 155

XVIII.  Harassment Based Upon Disability 156

XIX.  Disability Complaint as a Collateral Attack on Another Process 158

(OWCP or a Negotiated Grievance Process)

XX.  Good Faith Defense to an Award of Compensatory Damages 159

Disparate Impact 160

Equal Pay Act 161

Evidence 162

I.  Adequacy of Legitimate Nondiscriminatory Reason 162

II.  Use of Settlement Agreement From Another EEO Case as Proof 169

III.  Are Comparators Similarly Situated? 170

IV.  Adverse Inferences 171

V.  Bona Fide Occupational Qualifications (BFOQ’s) 173

VI.  Sex Plus 174

VII.  Direct Evidence 175

VIII.  Mixed Motive 176

IX.  Use of the Term “boy” 176

Harassment (Not Sexual) 177

I.  Disability Harassment Claims 177

II.  Race Harassment Claims 179

III.  Sex (Gender) Harassment Claims 184

IV.  National Origin Harassment Claims 187

V.  Religious Harassment Claims 189

VI.  Reprisal Harassment Claims 189

VII.  Affirmative Defenses 190

VIII.  Fragmentation of Harassment Claims 194

IX.  Sufficient to State a Claim? 196

X.  Severe and Pervasive 197

XI.  Based Upon a Protected Class? 198

Hearings (EEOC) and AJ Authority 199

I.  Default Judgments and Other Sanctions Against the Agency 199

II.  Dismissal of a Complaint and Other Sanction Against the Complainant 203

III.  Agency Failure to Process 204

IV.  Requests for Recusal by the AJ 204

V.  Bifurcation of Hearings (into Liability and Remedy Stages) 205

VI.  Telephone Testimony at EEOC Hearings 206

VII.  Credibility Determinations by AJ’s 208

Independent Contractors 209

Investigation (EEO) 213

I.  Inadequate 213

II.  Refusal to Provide Information 215

Labor-Related Issues 215

I.  The Union’s Right to be Present on EEO Matters 215

II.  Individual’s Right to Seek Judicial Remedy for a Grievance 217

Mixed Cases 218

National Origin Discrimination 221

I.  Disparate Treatment 221

II.  Foreign Accent 223

III.  Recruitment of Hispanics into the Federal Workforce 223

Nonselection Claims 224

I.  Failure of Agency to Articulate an Adequate Reason 224

II.  “Clearly Better Qualified” 226

III.  Claims of Nonselection Because of Age 228

IV.  Claims of Nonselection Because of National Origin 230

V.  Claims of Nonselection Because of Race 230

VI.  Claims of Nonselection Because of Sex 234

VII.  Claims of Nonselection Because of Disability 235

A.  Disability Inquiries During the Selection Process 237

VIII.  Claims of Nonselection Because of Religion 238

IX.  Claims of Nonselection Because of Reprisal 239

X.  Required Retention of Records in Selection Cases 239

XI.  Challenges to Selections Based on Settlement Agreements 240

Official Time 241

Procedures 242

I.  State a Claim? 242

A.  States a Claim 242

B.  Fails to State a Claim 250

II.  Same Claim as One Pending or Previously Decided 262

III.  Moot and Premature Complaints 263

IV.  Failure to Locate Complainant 263

V.  Abuse of Process 263

VI.  Claims Related to Other Processes – Union and OWCP 267

VII.  Raised in MSPB or Negotiated Grievance Process 268

VIII.  Scope of Court Hearing 269

IX.  Spin-Off Complaints 269

X.  Appeals to the Commission 270

XI.  Failure to Prosecute 271

XII.  Failure to Cooperate 271

XIII.  Denial of Official Time 272

XIV.  Intent to Withdraw Complaint 272

XV.  No Commission Jurisdiction For Some Off Duty Conduct by Co-Worker 273

XVI.  Fragmentation of Claims 274

XVII.  Scope of Court Hearing of EEO Complaint 275

XVIII.  My Dog Ate My Complaint Forms 275

Reassignment and Transfers 275

Race 277

Regulations and Guidance 283

Religious Discrimination 284

I.  Reasonable Accommodation 284

II.  Hostile Work Environment 290

Remedies and Other Relief 291

I.  Reinstatement 291

II.  Tax Liability 291

III.  Back Pay Awards 292

IV.  Training 293

V.  Offer of the Position Denied or a Substantially Equivalent Position 295

VI.  Mitigation of Damages 295

Reprisal / Retaliation 296

I.  Evidence of Reprisal 296

II.  Participation Reprisal 304

III.  Opposition Reprisal 307

IV.  Conduct Likely to Deter Protected Activity 309

V.  Per Se Violations 313

VI.  Disability Retaliation 314

VII.  Sexual Orientation 314

Security Clearances and State Secrets 315

Settlement 316

I.  Breach of a Settlement Agreement 316

II.  A Settlement Agreement Was Not Breached 319

III.  Unenforceable Agreements / Insufficient Consideration 320

IV.  Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) 322

V.  Agency Attempt to Enforce a Settlement Agreement 324

VI.  Tax Consequences 325

VII.  No Commission Jurisdiction to Enforce an MSPB or Grievance 325

VIII.  Challenge or Attempt to Use a Settlement Agreement in Another Case 325

IX.  Claims of Bad Faith in Negotiating Agreement 326

X.  Confidentiality Clauses 327

Sex (Gender) Discrimination 328

I.  Proof 328

II.  Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ) 333

III.  Sex Plus 334

IV.  Sex-Stereotyping 334

V.  Discrimination Based Upon Pregnancy 334

VI.  Transsexual Discrimination 336

Sexual Harassment 336

I.  In General: Quid Pro Quo and Hostile Environment 336

II.  Severe or Pervasive 338

III.  Unwelcomeness 344

IV.  Because of Sex 346

V.  Sexual in Nature 346

VI.  Affirmative Defense: Coworker Harassment 347

VII.  Affirmative Defense: Supervisory Harassment 349

VIII.  Credibility Issues 352

IX.  Isolated Instances of Sexual Favoritism Not Covered 355

X.  EEO Complaints by Individuals Accused of Sexual Harassment 356

Sexual Orientation 356

Transsexual Discrimination – Gender Dysphoria 357

Summary Judgment 361

I.  Disability Cases 361

II.  Sex (Gender) Cases 366

III.  Race Cases 367

IV.  National Origin (Foreign Accent) Cases 368

V.  Age Cases 369

VI.  Retaliation Cases 369

VII.  Nonselection cases 369

Timeliness 370

I.  Not Aware of the Time Limits / “Reasonable Suspicion” Standard 370

II.  Claims of Incapacitation / Prevented from Contacting 377

an EEO Counselor

III.  Continuing Violations 379

IV.  Like or Related 383

V.  Recurring Violations 383

VI.  Method of Contacting 385

VII.  Attempt to Resolve Through Management Does Not Toll Contact Time 385

VIII.  Insufficient Agency Proof 387

IX.  Claims of Misinformation 387

X.  Contact But No Intent to File 388

XI.  Fear of Reprisal as an Excuse 388

XII.  Mailing Presumption and Other Mailing Cases 389

XIII.  Time Period Tolled During Active Military Duty 389

Table of Contents (from 2006 sessions)

Page

Age Discrimination 4

Attorney’s Fees 9

Award Claims 13

Class Actions 14

Compensatory Damages 17

Constructive Discharge 34

Disability Discrimination 36

Disparate Impact 99

Equal Pay Act 100

Evidence / Burden of Proof 101

Harassment (Not Sexual) 105

Hearings (EEOC) and AJ Authority 123

Independent Contractors 130

Investigations (EEO) 133

Labor-Related Issues 136

Mixed Cases 137

National Origin Claims 141

Non Selection Claims 142

Official Time 157

Overtime Claims 159

Procedures 163

Reassignment and Transfers 183

Regulations and Guidance 184

Religious Discrimination 185

Remedy 191

Reprisal / Retaliation 194

Security Clearance and Related Matters 210

Settlement 212

Sex (Gender) Discrimination 220

Sexual Harassment 228

Summary Judgment (By AJ’s) 251

Timeliness 260

Home Page > Courses > EEO > EEO Reprisal

EEO Reprisal

Description: This is a review of and legal 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 authoritydecisions.

Length: 2 or 4 hours.

EEO Reprisal and Update

Table of Contents

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