Within OST the Director of the Departmental Office of Civil Rights (DOCR) is the designated advisor to the Secretary on civil rights matters. The DOCR director provides leadership, policy, guidance, monitoring, and technical assistance to the OAs in implementing DOT's civil rights responsibilities. Each OA has an Office of Civil Rights, or individuals assigned these responsibilities, to ensure civil rights compliance for their respective organization and programs.
The Department's civil rights activities fall into two broad categories:
Internal civil rights programs affecting DOT employees and applicants for employment. External civil rights programs relating to the beneficiaries and potential beneficiaries of the various transportation programs receiving federal financial assistance through DOT.
Our Mission
One aspect of the Department's civil rights mission, which pertains to you as an employee, is to eliminate unlawful discrimination in Federal employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, and disability. Civil rights laws also protect individuals from reprisal/retaliation for bringing discriminatory conduct to the attention to the appropriate officials, participating in an investigation, or opposing discriminatory practices. In addition, Federal law also prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
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Core Responsibilities
Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for DOT employees and applicants for employment Ensure that all beneficiaries and potential beneficiaries have an equal opportunity to participate in DOT transportation programs Investigate allegations of discrimination Provide a means of redress for DOT employees that are the victims of discrimination
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Internal Civil Rights Program
As an employee, one should expect the following programs and practices to be available:
Implementing equal opportunity laws and policies to prevent discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, and against individuals with disabilities, as well as protecting individuals against reprisal/retaliation for filing a charge of discrimination, participating in an investigation into alleged discriminatory practices, or opposing discriminatory practices Implementing affirmative employment programs to address under representation of minorities, women and persons with disabilities. These include Special Emphasis programs (for example, the Hispanic Employment Program, the Federal Women's Program, and the People with Disabilities Program) Administering informal and formal programs to resolve EEO complaints filed by DOT employees and applicants for employment, to include using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods, such as mediation, to assist in the fair and early resolution of complaints. DOT maintains a roster of EEO counselors and mediators to provide advice and assistance to employees Administering White House Initiative (WHI) programs implementing presidential executive orders directed to Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans; Tribal Colleges and Universities; Increasing Opportunity and Improving Quality of Life of Asian American and Pacific Islanders; and, Increasing the Employment of Adults with Disabilities Monitoring and reporting on DOT's compliance and implementation of equal opportunity laws, regulations, executive orders, programs, and policies
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Organizational Chart
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