When handling complaints, counselors strive to settle discrimination allegations swiftly, informally and amicably. Previously, anyone perceiving sexual orientation discrimination had no clearly designated place to take a complaint. Subsequently, the President issued an executive order establishing a government-wide policy banning sexual orientation discrimination and left it to individual agencies to establish their own complaints procedures. The office helped fill another vacuum recently by extending nondiscrimination protection to State's Foreign Service National employees worldwide. The staff collaborated closely with the Office of Overseas Employment and the Office of the Legal Adviser to ensure that FSNs receive the same rights as their Foreign Service and Civil Service colleagues.
Training is a centerpiece of the office's activities.
Staff members make presentations at the Foreign Service Institute during the Department's diversity training programs, ambassadorial and deputy chief of mission seminars, Civil Service and Foreign Service orientations, the Diplomatic Security course, management studies, awards committee and selection board briefings, Presidential Management Intern briefings and various ad hoc briefings domestically and abroad. In addition to promoting Department policies about equal opportunity and discrimination, these training activities give the EEO staff important feedback about prevailing employee attitudes and problems. It identifies occupational series in which women and minorities are underrepresented and identifies shortfalls and proposes steps to remove barriers to greater workforce diversity. The office compiles several reports each year highlighting EEO accomplishments and measuring and monitoring the effectiveness of the Department's EEO efforts. The office's many contacts extend well beyond State.