EEO

Federal law requires the Postal Service™ to afford equal employment opportunity to employees and applicants for employment regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age (40+), or physical or mental disability. Employment discrimination or retaliation for engaging in an EEO-protected activity is prohibited.

How to Begin the EEO Process

Who: If you are a Postal Service employee or an applicant for Postal Service employment, and you feel that you have been discriminated against because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age (40+), physical or mental disability, or in retaliation for engaging in an EEO-protected activity, you must consult an EEO counselor before filing a complaint of discrimination.

When: You must bring individual and class action complaints to the attention of the EEO office by requesting counseling within 45 calendar days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act; within 45 calendar days of the date you knew or reasonably should have known about the discrimination; or if a personnel action is involved, within 45 calendar days of its effective date. If you bring an individual complaint and later believe that your case has class-action implications, you may move for class certification at any reasonable point during the processing of your original complaint.

How: Request EEO counseling by calling one of these TOLL-FREE numbers:

888-EEO-USPS (888-336-8777)

TTY: 800-877-8339 (Federal Relay Service)

You will be asked to provide the following information: your name, Social Security number, address, telephone number, finance number, and office location.

What Will Happen: A package of EEO information and forms will be sent to you. After you complete and return the applicable forms to the address provided, an EEO professional will contact you. The EEO professional will look into your problem and try to help the parties reach a resolution within 30 days. If the parties are unable to agree on a resolution, and you agree to extend the time period, the precomplaint processing period will be no longer than 90 calendar days.

As an alternative to traditional counseling, the Postal Service may offer mediation as a part of the EEO process. If the matter is not resolved by the conclusion of the counseling process, or if the matter is mediated without resolution, the EEO professional will advise you of the procedures for filing a formal complaint.

You may request that your name not be disclosed during the counseling portion of the EEO complaint process.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY IS THE LAW