Civil Rights

The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has statewide leadership responsibilities in Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) areas including but not limited to Bilingual Services, Limited Examination and Appointment Program (LEAP), Reasonable Accommodation, Upward Mobility, and Workforce Analysis. OCR provides direction and serves as a resource to departments. OCR is also responsible for developing and publishing the Annual Census of Employees in the State Civil Service as well as the Language Survey and Implementation Plan reports that are statutorily mandated, and it assists departments with technical support to meet their duties in these areas.

Civil Rights Functions

Equal Employment Opportunity

Bilingual Services Program
- Employee fluency testing
- Administrative hearing, medical and court interpreters
- Language Survey and Implementation Plan Report
Disability Services

Reasonable Accommodation (RA)
Limited Examination and Appointment Program (LEAP)

Discrimination Complaint Tracking and Monitoring

Discrimination Complaint Tracking System (DCTS)
DCTS user tools and information

Upward Mobility

Information for employees interested in the Upward Mobility Program
Guidelines for Administering Departmental Upward Mobility Programs
Annual Reporting Requirements through the Workforce Analysis

Workforce Analysis

Workforce composition
Goals for hiring persons with disabilities
Upward Mobility goals to promote employees from low paying classifications
Annual Census of Employees in State Civil Service
Women's Earnings Report
Statewide civil service demographic reports
Departmental civil service demographic reports
State civil service employee demographic data collection

Equal Employment Opportunity Informational Video

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing has produced a series of videos on equal rights titled "Equal Rights 101." The videos were produced under an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission grant, and include content on pregnancy discrimination, pre-employment inquiry, reasonable accommodation and sexual harassment in the workplace. The videos are for employers, employees, HR professionals, attorneys and educators.

Employment Discrimination

Employment discrimination is prohibited by law.

Each department has an EEO Officer that can assist department employees with civil rights issues, including discrimination complaints and reasonable accommodation.

Each department has an obligation to actively prevent discrimination, and to take immediate and effective action to eliminate it when it is discovered. This includes having non-discrimination policies and procedures in place, and informing employees about them so that they may file a discrimination complaint if necessary. The OCR does not receive or investigate discrimination complaints. Instead, state employees may file discrimination complaints with one or all of the following entities:

The EEO Officer of the specific state agency believed to have exercised unlawful discrimination.

Equal Employment Opportunity Officer List in Excel Format (screen-reader accessible and printable)

California Department of Fair Employment and Housing

Use the online system at www.dfeh.ca.gov.
Call the DFEH Communication Center at (800) 884-1684. A complainant with a hearing impairment can call for telephone assistance 800-884-1684, use the Videophone at (916) 226-5285, or use TDD at (800) 700-2320.
Request the pre-complaint inquiry form, then complete and return it via U.S. mail to any DFEH’s office location (https://www.dfeh.ca.gov/contact-us/office-locations/).
E-mail the pre-complaint inquiry form to contact.center@dfeh.ca.gov.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

www.eeoc.gov/employees/howtofile.cfm

Legal Authority and References

Persons with Disabilities: Government Code Sections: 19232, 19233( c), 19234, 19795; can be found at: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov under Government Code, and Executive Order S-04-05 (2005) can be found at: www.gov.ca.gov

Upward Mobility: Government Code Sections 19401, 19402 can be found at: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov under Government Code and California Code of Regulations §§ 599.981, 599.982, 599.983, 599.984, 599.985 and 599.986 can be found at: Office of Administrative Law at: www.oal.ca.gov

Workforce Composition: Government Code Sections 19791(b) and 19797 can be found at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov under Government Code, and California Code of Regulations Section 599.980 can be found at Westlaw.com

Americans with Disabilities Act (Federal Law)
California Fair Employment and Housing Act (State Law)
Government Code regarding Hiring Persons with Disabilities (State Law)

Additional Resources

Workplace Conflict and Mediation

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