Question: What is Equal Employment Opportunity?
Answer: Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) is fair treatment in employment, promotion, training and other personnel actions without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, genetic information and physical or mental disability. To ensure that all Federal employees and applicants for employment with the Federal Government are provided this opportunity, certain laws and regulations were issued containing the legal basis for EEO programs in Federal agencies.
Question: What is discrimination?
Answer: There are things that go on in the workplace that are unfair and unfortunate but are not unlawful. To prove discrimination, the action must be unlawful. Generally speaking, being treated differently from others is discrimination. Being treated differently from others because of one or more of the categories protected by EEO laws or regulations is unlawful discrimination.
Question: Do railroad employees file discrimination complaints against their railroad employer through the Railroad Retirement Board?
Answer: No, railroad employees should contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in their geographic location to file a complaint. The toll-free number is 1-800-669-4000 or visit www.eeoc.gov.
Question: I applied for my benefits and it is not as much as it should be. Can I file an EEO Complaint with the RRB OEO?
Answer: Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, RRB customers can initiate a complaint of discrimination if the claim meets certain criteria. OEO is responsible for processing these complaints however, OEO does not have jurisdiction over complaints concerning benefit calculation amounts, entitlement or eligibility. The Railroad Retirement Act and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act govern benefit calculations, entitlement and eligibility.
Question: I need guidance. Will the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) help me with my complaint??
Answer: The OEO staff is a neutral party and does not represent management or the complainant during the complaint process. OEO will provide you information regarding the complaint process; explain your options and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the allegations. You have the right to be represented by a person of your choice (excluding staff of OEO, Human Resources, or the Office of the General Counsel) at any time during the complaint process.
Question: What if I file a complaint and later decide that I don’t want to pursue it any longer?
Answer: You can withdraw the complaint at any stage of the process.