NO FEAR ACT

NO FEAR ACT

The Notification And Federal Employee Anti-Discrimination And Retaliation (No Fear) Act Of 2002, Public Law 107-174

In 2002, President George W. Bush signed the Notification and Federal Employee Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act (No Fear Act). The No Fear Act increases the accountability of Federal departments and agencies for acts of discrimination or reprisal against employees.
The No FEAR Act requires that Federal agencies be accountable for violations of anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws.  To comply with the No FEAR Act, we must, among other requirements, post a summary of the statistical data relating to the EEO complaints filed with the agency.

 

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1702-1703]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-376]
No FEAR Act Notice

 

On May 15, 2002, Congress enacted the “Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002,” which is now known as the No FEAR Act.  One purpose of the Act is to “require that Federal agencies be accountable for violations of antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws.”  Public Law 107-174, Summary.  In support of this purpose, Congress found that “agencies cannot be run effectively if those agencies practice or tolerate discrimination.”  Public Law 107-174, Title I, General Provisions, section 101(1).

 

The Act also requires this agency to provide this notice to Federal employees, former Federal employees and applicants for Federal employment to inform you of the rights and protections available to you under Federal antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws.

 

Antidiscrimination Laws

 

A Federal agency cannot discriminate against an employee or applicant with respect to the terms, conditions or privileges of employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status or political affiliation. Discrimination on these bases is prohibited by one or more of the following statutes: 5 U.S.C. 2302(b)(1), 29 U.S.C. 206(d), 29 U.S.C. 631, 29 U.S.C. 633a, 29 U.S.C. 791 and 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16.

 

This agency also prohibits discrimination based on parental status and sexual orientation.  Executive Order 13152 states explicitly that discrimination based upon an individual’s status as a parent is prohibited within the Executive Branch of the Federal Government.  The right to address sexual orientation discrimination derives from Agency policy.   If you believe that you have been the victim of unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, parental status or sexual orientation you must contact an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) counselor within 45 calendar days of the alleged discriminatory action, or, in the case of a personnel action, within 45 calendar days of the effective date of the action, before you can file a formal complaint of discrimination with the Agency.  See, e.g. 29 CFR 1614.  If you believe that you have been the victim of unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, you must either contact an EEO counselor as noted above or give notice of intent to sue to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180 calendar days of the alleged discriminatory action.  If you are alleging discrimination based on marital status or political affiliation, you may file a written complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) (see contact information below).  In the alternative (or in some cases, in addition), you may pursue a discrimination complaint by filing a grievance through the Agency’s administrative or negotiated grievance procedures, if such procedures apply and are available.

 

Whistleblower Protection Laws

 

A Federal employee with authority to take, direct others to take, recommend or approve any personnel action must not use that authority to take or fail to take, or threaten to take or fail to take, a personnel action against an employee or applicant because of disclosure of information by that individual that is reasonably believed to evidence violations of law, rule or regulation; gross mismanagement; gross waste of funds; an abuse of authority; or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, unless disclosure of such information is specifically prohibited by law and such information is specifically required by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs.

 

Retaliation against an employee or applicant for making a protected disclosure is prohibited by 5 U.S.C. 2302(b)(8).  If you believe that you have been the victim of whistleblower retaliation, you may file a written complaint (Form OSC-11) with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel at 1730 M Street NW., Suite 218, Washington, DC 20036-4505 or online through the OSC Web site–http://www.osc.gov.

 

Retaliation for Engaging in Protected Activity

 

A Federal agency cannot retaliate against an employee or applicant because that individual exercises his or her rights under any of the Federal antidiscrimination or whistleblower protection laws listed above.  If you believe that you are the victim of retaliation for engaging in protected activity, you must follow, as appropriate, the procedures described in the Antidiscrimination Laws and Whistleblower Protection Laws sections or, if applicable, the administrative or negotiated grievance procedures in order to pursue any legal remedy.

 

Disciplinary Actions

 

Under the existing laws, each agency retains the right, where appropriate, to discipline a Federal employee for conduct that is inconsistent with Federal Antidiscrimination and Whistleblower Protection Laws up to and including removal.  If OSC has initiated an investigation under 5 U.S.C. 1214, however, according to 5 U.S.C. 1214(f), agencies must seek approval from the Special Counsel to discipline employees for, among other activities, engaging in prohibited retaliation.  Nothing in the No FEAR Act alters existing laws or permits an agency to take unfounded disciplinary action against a Federal employee or to violate the procedural rights of a Federal employee who has been accused of discrimination.

 

Additional Information

 

For further information regarding the No FEAR Act regulations, refer to 5 CFR part 724.  You may also contact the Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity (Headquarters), the appropriate Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity office (Regions), or the Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity Manager (Office of Disability Adjudication and Review).  Additional information regarding Federal antidiscrimination, whistleblower protection and retaliation laws can be found at the EEOC Web site– http://www.eeoc.gov and the OSC Web site–http://www.osc.gov. Existing Rights Unchanged

 

Pursuant to section 205 of the No FEAR Act, neither the Act nor this notice creates, expands or reduces any rights otherwise available to any employee, former employee or applicant under the laws of the United States, including the provisions of law specified in 5 U.S.C. 2302(d).

———————————————————————– This data is posted on TSA’s website and is updated quarterly. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY No FEAR Act AGENCY: Office of the Secretary; DHS. ACTION: Notice. ———————————————————————– SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is providing notice to all of its employees, former employees, and applicants for employment about the rights and remedies that are available to them under Federal antidiscrimination laws and whistleblower protection laws. This notice satisfies the Department’s notification requirements under section 202 of the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 and Office of Personnel Management regulations. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Shih, Deputy Officer for Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Programs, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 245 Murray Lane, SW., Building 410, Washington DC, 20528, by telephone at 1-888-644-8360 or by e-mail at civil.liberties@dhs.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002, “No FEAR Act”), Public Law 107-174 (May 15, 2002) was enacted, in part, to ensure that federal agencies are accountable for violations of antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws. Congress expressly found that “agencies cannot be run effectively if those agencies practice or tolerate discrimination.” Id., Title I, General Provisions, section 101(1). In furtherance of this purpose, section 202 of the No FEAR Act requires all Federal agencies to provide written notification to Federal employees, former Federal employees and applicants for Federal employment to inform them of the rights and protections available under applicable Federal antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws. The Act also requires federal agencies to post the notice on each agency’s Web site. Pursuant to section 202 of the No FEAR Act, DHS is notifying all of its employees, former employees, and applicants for employment about the rights and remedies that are available to them under applicable Federal antidiscrimination laws and whistleblower protection laws. This notice will also be posted on DHS’s Web site https://www.dhs.gov. Antidiscrimination Laws A Federal agency, including DHS, may not discriminate against an employee or applicant for Federal employment with respect to the terms, conditions or privileges of employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status or political affiliation. Discrimination on these bases is prohibited by one or more of the following statutes: 5 U.S.C.2302(b)(1), 29 U.S.C. 206(d), 29 U.S.C. 631, 29 U.S.C. 633a, 29 U.S.C. 791 and 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16. If you believe that you have been the victim of unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin or disability, you must contact a DHS Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) counselor within 45 calendar days of the alleged discriminatory action, or, in the case of a personnel action, within 45 calendar days of the effective date of the action, before you can file a formal [[Page 1703]] complaint of discrimination with your agency. See, e.g., 29 CFR part 1614. If you believe that you have been the victim of unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, you must either contact an EEO counselor, as noted above, or give notice of intent to sue to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180 calendar days of the alleged discriminatory action. If you are alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation, marital status, protected genetic information or political affiliation, you may (a) File a written complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) (see contact information below) or (b) pursue a discrimination complaint by contacting a DHS Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) counselor within 45 calendar days of the alleged discriminatory action or (c) file a grievance through the DHS administrative or negotiated grievance procedures, if such procedures apply and are available. Whistleblower Protection Laws A Federal employee–including a DHS employee–with authority to take, direct others to take, recommend or approve any personnel action must not use that authority to take or fail to take, or threaten to take or fail to take, a personnel action against an employee or applicant because of disclosure of information by that individual that is reasonably believed to evidence violations of: law, rule or regulation; gross mismanagement; gross waste of funds; an abuse of authority; or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, unless disclosure of such information is specifically prohibited by law and such information is specifically required by Executive Order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs. Retaliation against an employee or applicant for making a protected disclosure is prohibited by 5 U.S.C. 2302(b)(8). If you believe you have been the victim of whistleblower retaliation, you may file a written complaint (Form OSC-11) with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel at 1730 M Street, NW., Suite 218, Washington, DC 20036-4505 or online through the OSC Web site–http://www.osc.gov. Retaliation for Engaging in Protected Activity A Federal employee, including a DHS employee, may not retaliate against an employee or applicant for employment because that individual exercises his or her rights under any of the Federal antidiscrimination or whistleblower protection laws listed above. If you believe that you are the victim of retaliation for engaging in protected activity, you must follow, as appropriate, the procedures described in the Antidiscrimination Laws and Whistleblower Protection Laws sections or, if applicable, the administrative or negotiated grievance procedures in order to pursue any legal remedy. Disciplinary Actions Under the existing laws, DHS retains the right, where appropriate, to discipline a Federal employee for conduct that is inconsistent with Federal Antidiscrimination and Whistleblower Protection Laws, up to and including removal. If OSC has initiated an investigation under 5 U.S.C. 1214, however, according to 5 U.S.C. 1214(f), DHS must seek approval from the Special Counsel to discipline employees for, among other activities, engaging in prohibited retaliation. Nothing in the No FEAR Act alters existing laws or permits DHS to take unfounded disciplinary action against a Federal employee or to violate the procedural rights of a Federal employee who has been accused of discrimination. Additional Information For further information regarding the No FEAR Act regulations, refer to 5 CFR Part 724, as well as the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. Additional information regarding Federal antidiscrimination, whistleblower protection and retaliation laws can be found at the EEOC Web site–http://www.eeoc.gov and the OSC Web site–http://www.osc.gov. Existing Rights Unchanged Pursuant to section 205 of the No FEAR Act, neither the Act nor this notice creates, expands or reduces any rights otherwise available to any employee, former employee or applicant under the laws of the United States, including the provisions of law specified in 5 U.S.C. 2302(d). Daniel W. Sutherland, Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. [FR Doc. E9-376 Filed 1-12-09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4410-10-P

 

No FEAR Act Annual Reports to Congress, by Department and Agency
Executive Departments
Independent Agencies
  • *Request pending
DOJ Judgment Fund Payments
After looking at the information about the no fear act, it seemed like eeoc.gov
was lacking in so many federal agency links

NO FEAR Data on Federal Agency Websites

AgencyURL
Corporation for National and Community Servicehttp://www.nationalservice.gov/home/no_fear_act/index.asp
Defense Contract Management Agency https://home.dcma.mil/DCMAHQ/dcma_D/dcma_DC/dcma_DCO/index.cfm
Defense Finance and Accounting Servicehttp://www.dod.mil/dfas/more/legislativeaffairs/nofearact.html
Department of Agriculturehttp://www.usda.gov/nofear/index.html
Department of Commercehttp://www.osec.doc.gov/ocr/nofear/nofear.htm
Department of Defense Education Activityhttp://www.dodea.edu/Offices/DMEO/reports.cfm
Department of Treasuryhttp://www.treas.gov/nofearact/
Farm Credit Administrationhttp://www.fca.gov/eeo.htm
Federal Housing Finance Boardhttp://www.fhfb.gov/GetFile.aspx?FileID=6186 and http://www.fhfb.gov/GetFile.aspx?FileID=6187
Federal Labor Relations Authorityhttp://www.flra.gov/nofear/nofear.html
Federal Maritime Commissionhttp://www.fmc.gov/home/NoFearAct.asp
Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commissioneeo-notice
National Capital Planning Commissionhttp://www.ncpc.gov/general/noFearact.html
National Credit Union Administrationhttp://www.ncua.gov/AboutNcua/NoFear/NoFear.htm
National Endowment for the Humanitieshttp://www.neh.gov/whoweare/eeoreport2006.html
National Science Foundationhttp://www.nsf.gov/od/oeo/nofear/nofear3_06.jsp
National Security Agencyhttp://www.nsa.gov/eeo/
Office of Personnel Managementhttp://www.opm.gov/about_opm/nofear/quarterly_third_2006.asp
Office of Special Counselhttp://www.osc.gov/nofearinfoandrpt.htm
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporationhttp://www.pbgc.gov/about/eeo.html
Railroad Retirement Boardhttp://www.rrb.gov/oeo/nofear_statistics.asp
Securities and Exchange Commissionhttp://www.sec.gov/eeoinfo/nofeardata.htm
Small Business Administrationhttp://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/sba_nofear.pdf
Tennessee Valley Authorityhttp://www.tva.com/abouttva/nofear/index.htm
Transportation Security Administrationhttp://www.tsa.gov/no-fear
U.S. Access Boardhttp://www.access-board.gov/about/eeodata.htm
 U.S. Coast Guardhttp://dhsconnect.dhs.gov/ORG/COMP/USCG/Pages/Home.aspx
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissionhttp://www.cpsc.gov/about/eeo/eeo.html
U.S. Patent and Trademark Officehttp://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ahrpa/ocr/nofear_home.htm
U.S. Postal Servicehttp://www.usps.com/nofearact

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