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# About the Civil Rights Program

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has established an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Complaint Process, which is available to employees (current and former) and applicants for employment with the agency, who believe they have been subjected to discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion (including reasonable accommodation for religious beliefs and practices), sex (including gender identity and expressions, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age (40 and over), mental or physical disability (including reasonable accommodation), status as a parent, and/or genetic information. For more information, see How to File an EEO Complaint.

The NRC's EEO complaint process is also available to employees (current and former) and applicants, who believe they have been subjected to reprisal or workplace harassment for participating in a protected activity or opposing practices made unlawful by the related Federal Civil Rights Statutes, Regulations, and Policies.

*Any matter that falls within the scope of the EEO complaint process may be raised in a formal EEO complaint or through the negotiated grievance procedure, but not both. Employees whose claims fall outside the scope of the EEO complaint process (i.e., claims that may not be brought before the EEOC) may nonetheless raise such matters, if otherwise grievable, through the negotiated grievance procedure (CBA Article 46, Grievance Procedures). See also 29 CFR 1614, Subpart C*.

Note that discrimination based on sexual orientation and status as a parent are not bases covered by the regulations of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), set forth in Title 29, Part 1614, of the *Code of Federal Regulations*(29 CFR Part 1614). However, allegations of discrimination on that basis may be pursued with the NRC's Office of Small Business and Civil Rights (SBCR).

Contractor employees may qualify as “employees of the agency” within the context of the anti-discrimination statutes, and must contact an EEO counselor within 45 calendars days of alleged discrimination by the NRC. Contractor employees will qualify as "employees of the agency," for the purpose of filing a complaint of employment discrimination, only if they meet specific criteria including that the NRC exercises control over the means and manner of their performance. Contractor employees should also pursue resolution of their complaint through their employer's complaint and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, February 15, 2023

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          - No FEAR Act
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Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, February 15, 2023