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Employment Discrimination Complaint Process

Risk Management Agency (RMA) policy prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, reprisal, sexual orientation, marital and parental status, political affiliation, receipt of public assistance or protected genetic information. Illegal conduct or inappropriate workplace behavior will not be condoned or tolerated. Violation of Civil Rights policies may lead to discipline or other adverse action.

As your Administrator, I strongly support Civil Rights, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), USDA's Diversity and Inclusion policy, and Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) initiatives. I encourage each manager/supervisor and employee to embrace and develop a diverse workforce within RMA that reflects the diversity of the nation we serve. All of us share in the responsibility for creating and maintaining a diverse workplace free of discrimination, harassment, and reprisal. Be proactive. The diversity of our workforce enriches our workplace and our community. Work toward eliminating under-representation in the workforce by recruiting and employing a highly skilled, competent, and diverse workforce.

Our ADR initiative is critical to early conflict resolution. ADR is beneficial because it may decrease the time and cost of resolving disputes or conflict, increase customer satisfaction, and employee morale. ADR is a win-win process and I encourage all managers/supervisors and employees to participate in ADR. Contact RMA's Office of Civil Rights for information on the ADR process.

We all share in the responsibility to promote equal access to the workplace and federally assisted programs and services. Any employee who believes his or her rights have been violated under anti-discrimination policy must contact RMA's EEO Counselor, EEO Manager, or the Office of Civil Rights within 45 calendar days of the alleged discriminatory action to begin the complaint process. It is expected that employees may exercise their filing rights free of reprisal.

All of us are obligated to support Civil Rights, EEO, ADR, and Diversity and Inclusion policies. We must also ensure that all under-served farmers and ranchers, including women, minorities, small and limited resource, and socially disadvantaged, have program information and technical assistance necessary to equally access and participate in all RMA programs and activities. In this way, we will fulfill our mission at RMA and USDA.

/s/ William J. Murphy
William J. Murphy
Administrator

August 31, 2011

USDA-RMA EEO Complaint Activity Data | USDA Civil Rights Web Site