The courts have been careful to state that minority races are not the sole victims of discrimination. Whites, if treated differently than others who are similarly situated, have also been found to be discriminated against. Religious discrimination occurs when an employment rule or policy requires a person to either violate a fundamental precept of his or her religion or lose an employment opportunity. It can occur when an employer fails to provide reasonable accommodation, such as altering work schedules. Reprisal discrimination is any act of restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal against any person who has raised an allegation of discrimination, represented a person raising such an allegation, acted as a witness to such an allegation, or served as an EEO official in processing such an allegation.
Sex discrimination occurs when an employee is treated adversely because of their sex.
Sex discrimination includes sexual harassment and discrimination in the payment of wages due to a person's sex. Sexual harassment is defined as deliberate, repeated, unsolicited, and unwelcome verbal comments, gestures, or physical contact of a sexual nature occurring in the workplace or work related environment. Mediation is used as dispute resolution techniques to resolve problems raised as EEO complaints. Within 45 days of the date of the matter alleged to be discriminatory or within 45 days of the effective date of a personnel action. EEO Counselor makes inquiry, tries to resolve complaint informally, conducts final interview, and, if complaint is not resolved, gives complainant written notice of right to file formal complaint.