But many hidden costs, such as confidential financial settlements, couldn't be calculated. In 1997, one-fifth of the allegations in EEOC complaints concerned racial discrimination, mostly toward blacks. But whites filed about one-fourth of the race cases, alleging reverse discrimination. Ed Drury, a Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controller and supervisor in Florida, filed suit in 1994 after he was replaced by a black man. More often, employees complain the government isn't doing enough to provide equal opportunities for minorities, who make up 29 percent of the work force.
Some critics contend affirmative action programs increase tensions and encourage complaints.
Preliminary EEOC figures for 1997 showed agencies made an official finding of discrimination in only 359, or 4 percent, of the 8,728 discrimination cases decided by federal agencies. But more than 6,000 other cases were resolved with corrective action. Not all employees prevail. Mail carrier Pamela Heintzelman claimed disability discrimination after the Postal Service fired her, alleging she misrepresented a back injury that kept her from working full hours. Postal investigators had videotaped Heintzelman, who raises Australian shepherd dogs, running and bending at several dog shows while on paid leave.