Counseling

To preserve your rights under EEO laws, contact an EEO Counselor within
45 days from the date you learned of the matter that you believe is
employment discrimination.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

ADR is an informal, non-adversarial process that offers individuals the
opportunity to discuss their concerns and resolve them in a mutually
satisfactory manner.

Management Directive 715 (MD-715)

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission MD-715, EEO Program, holds
ARS accountable for affirmative programs of equal employment
opportunity.

Frequently asked questions regarding MD-715 can be found at the
following web site:

[**www.eeoc.gov/federal/qanda-md715.html**](http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/qanda-md715.html)

The Notification and Federal Employee Anti-discrimination and
Retaliation

(NO FEAR) Act

The NO FEAR Act requires ARS to be accountable for violations,
anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection by posting quarterly
statistical data on EEO complaints.

More information regarding the NO FEAR Act can be found at the following
web site: [**www.usda.gov/nofear**](http://www.usda.gov/nofear)

EEO Training

-   Disability Awareness Training

-   EEO Complaint Processing

-   NO FEAR Training

-   Reasonable Accommodation

-   Sexual Harassment Prevention

Special Emphasis Program

-   African American Employment Program

-   Asian American/Pacific Islander Employment Program

-   Disability Employment Program

-   Federal Women's Employment Program

-   Hispanic Employment Program

-   Native American/Alaskan Native Program

Partnerships/Initiatives

-   USDA/1890 Capacity Building Grants

-   USDA/1890 Centers of Excellence

-   USDA/1890 National Scholars Program

-   USDA/1994 Native American Institutes

-   USDA Liaison Programs

-   White House Initiatives

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-   Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)

-   Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI)

-   Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)

-   Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU)

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all
its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s TARGET Center at
(202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil
Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA
is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

# ARS Civil Rights Programs 

## 

> U.S. Department of Agriculture
>
> Agricultural Research Service
>
> Office of the Administrator

Civil Rights Staff

![](media/image1.png){width="2.09375in" height="1.9895833333333333in"}

**ARS**

October 2005

The Civil Rights Staff (CRS) of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
represents and assists the Administrator on civil rights and equal
employment opportunity (EEO) matters. The CRS mission is to protect the
civil rights and equal employment opportunity for employees, applicants
for employment, and all beneficiaries.

Federal laws and Agency directives guide implementation of the EEO
program. The primary civil rights statutes and regulations governing
nondiscrimination in ARS programs and activities are as follows:

-   The Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA)

-   Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

-   The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA)

-   Title I and Title V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
    (ADA)

-   The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Sections 501 and 505

-   The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978

-   The Civil Rights Act of 1991

-   Executive Order 11478, as amended

EEO Laws prohibit Employment Discrimination on the following bases:

-   Age (40 and over)

-   Disability

-   Equal Pay

-   National Origin

-   Race

-   Religion

-   Retaliation

-   Sex (including pregnancy and childbirth)

-   Sexual Harassment

Harassment is Prohibited

Employees may not be harassed in the course of employment because of
their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national
origin, age or disability.

Employees may not be harassed because they have participated in the EEO
process or expressed their opposition to employment discrimination.

**Retaliation is Prohibited**

Participation in the EEO process, and opposition to discrimination are
protected activities, therefore employees subjected to harm in the form
of adverse employment practices or decisions or harassment have the
right to file a complaint of discrimination.

**Other Prohibited Personnel Practices**

In addition to the prohibitions contained in Antidiscrimination (EEO)
and Whistleblower Protection Laws, under Merit System Principles, no
personnel action in the Federal Government may be based on an
individual\'s:

-   Marital Status

-   Political Affiliation

-   Sexual Orientation

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-   Conduct not adversely affecting job performance

Reasonable Accommodation for Disability and for Religion

ARS provides reasonable accommodation to qualified employees and
applicants with physical and mental disabilities unless to do so would
cause an undue hardship on the Agency.

ARS also provides reasonable accommodation for the religious practices
and beliefs of employees and applicants.

Contact CRS for information regarding:

-   EEO/Alternative Dispute Resolution

-   EEO/CR Information

-   EEO Training

-   Management Directive 715

-   NO FEAR Act

-   Partnerships/Initiatives

-   Special Emphasis Programs

-   Reasonable Accommodation

The Civil Rights Staff is physically located at 1400 Independence Ave.,
SW, Room 3552S, Washington, DC 20250.

Hours: Monday -- Friday

8:00 am--4:30 pm EST

Voice: (202) 720-6161

TDD: (202) 720-3303

Complaints: (202) 720-3410

\(800\) 340-4289

FAX: (202) 690-0109

Contact us on the web: [**www.ars.usda.gov**](http://www.ars.usda.gov/).
Select the "About Us" section. "Civil Rights" is listed to the left.