Federal employees, including USPS employees, face discrimination in the workplace in the same way that other employees do. However, the legal process for handling these claims is much different than handling other employees’ claims. Unlike other employees, federal employees who face discrimination are not allowed to immediately file with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Instead the process begins with an internal EEO complaint filing. This internal EEO complaint generally must be filed within a short period of time (usually 45 days) from the alleged discriminatory act. Thereafter, the EEO complaint is processed according to the federal agency rules. This processing often includes taking a statement from the employee, gathering documents and interviewing witnesses. If this process does not result in a resolution of the matter, the complaining federal employee will have the option of filing a request for hearing with an EEOC Administrative Law Judge or taking the matter directly to federal court.
Keep in mind that you must file an EEO with the appropriate office within your federal agency in the time provided. That includes the following types of claims:
- Discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability and age 40 or older.
- Denials of reasonable accommodations for your disability
- Harassment on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability or age 40 or older and:
- Retaliation for engaging in protected activities related to the above including retaliation for reporting unlawful discrimination or unlawful harassment.
For USPS – Postal Service – employees, the EEO process begins with a filing with the Postal Service Equal Employment Opportunity Office. The Angel Law Firm represents federal employees, including an employee of the postal service, in proceedings before EEOC Administrative Law Judges and the federal courts. Please contact our firm for a consultation!