Frequently Asked Questions
Equal Employment Opportunity Complaint Filing
How do I initiate an equal employment opportunity
(EEO) complaint?
Answer
How do I check the status of my EEO complaint?
Answer
What is the deadline for contacting an EEO Counselor?
Answer
How do I contact an EEO Counselor?
Answer
What happens if I choose to participate in EEO counseling
during the
informal EEO complaint process?
Answer
How do I file a formal equal employment opportunity
(EEO) complaint?
Answer
What happens to my equal employment opportunity complaint
(EEO) once it is filed?
Answer
How do I initiate an USDA equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaint?
You may initiate an EEO complaint by contacting an EEO Counselor
for your agency. Refer to the EEO Counselors List for the
contact number. EEO
Cunselor List (PDF 83KB)
How do I check the status of my EEO complaint?
To check the status of your EEO complaint, contact the Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Information Research
Service, on (202) 401-0005 or (800) 795-3272 (toll free) or
send an email to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Civil Rights at CR-INFO@ascr.usda.gov.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech
disabilities, may contact us through the Federal Relay Service
on (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish).
What is the deadline for contacting an EEO Counselor?
You must initiate contact with an EEO Counselor within 45
calendar days of the alleged discriminatory action. In the
case of a personnel action, the EEO complaint must be filed
within 45 calendar days of the effective date of the personnel
action. Failure to comply with the 45 calendar day time limit
for contacting the EEO Counselor is grounds for dismissal
of your complaint. See the information on our Web site under
Discrimination Complaint Filing or call the Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Information Research
Service, on (202) 401-0005 or (800) 795-3272 (toll free) or
send an email to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Civil Rights at CR-INFO@ascr.usda.gov.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech
disabilities, may contact us through the Federal Relay Service
on (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish).
How do I contact an EEO Counselor?
To contact an EEO Counselor, call the Counselor that services
the USDA Agency or office in which you work. List
of EEO Counselors (PDF 83KB).
What happens if I choose to participate in EEO counseling during the informal EEO complaint process?
If you choose to participate in EEO counseling during the
informal EEO complaint process, the EEO counselor will request
additional information from you, if necessary to understand
your complaint. The EEO counselor may also obtain additional
information by talking to other persons involved in your complaint.
If the complaint is not resolved during the informal EEO complaint
process, the EEO counselor will issue a Notice of Final Interview.
You will have 15 calendar days to file a formal EEO complaint.
If a formal EEO Complaint is filed, the EEO counselor will
provide you with a counseling report. A copy of the counseling
report will also be sent to the Office of Adjudication. The
EEO counseling period may last up to 30 calendar days. You
and the agency involved in the complaint may agree to extend
the counseling period up to an additional 60 days.
How do I file a formal equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaint?
Prior to filing a formal equal employment opportunity (EEO)
complaint, you must first consult with an EEO Counselor in
order to attempt to resolve the matter informally. If the
matter is not resolved, the Counselor will inform you in writing
of the right to file a formal discrimination complaint. The
formal complaint must be filed within 15 calendar days of
your receipt of the Notice of Right to File a Discrimination
Complaint. The Notice of Right to File a Discrimination Complaint
will inform you of the appropriate official with whom to file.
(See the information on our Web site under Discrimination
Complaint Filing). For more information, contact the Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Information Research
Service on (202) 401-0005 or (800) 795-3272 (toll free). Individuals
who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities,
may contact us through the Federal Relay Service on (800)
877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). You may also send an
email to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
at CR-INFO@ascr.usda.gov.
What happens to my formal equal employment opportunity complaint (EEO) once it is filed?
For information on how USDA processes equal employment opportunity
complaints (EEO) see the information on our Web site under
Discrimination Complaint Filing. For more information, contact
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Information
Research Service, on (202) 401-0005 or (800) 795-3272 (toll
free) or send an email to the Office of the Assistant Secretary
for Civil Rights at CR-INFO@ascr.usda.gov.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech
disabilities, may contact us through the Federal Relay Service
on (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish).