Sec. 0.81  Functions of the Office.

    (a) The Office of Workplace Diversity (OWD), as a staff office to 
the Commission, shall develop, coordinate, evaluate, and recommend to 
the Commission policies, programs, and practices that foster a diverse 
workforce and promote and ensure equal opportunity for all employees and 
applicants for employment. A principal function of the Office is to 
lead, advise, and assist the Commission, including all of its component 
Bureau/Office managers, supervisors, and staff, at all levels, on ways 
to promote inclusion and full participation of all employees in pursuit 
of the Commission's mission. In accordance with this function, the 
Office shall:
    (1) Conduct independent analyses of the Commission's policies and 
practices to ensure that those policies and practices foster diversity 
in the workplace and ensure equal opportunity and equal treatment for 
employees and applicants; and
    (2) Advise the Commission, Bureaus, and Offices of their 
responsibilities under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as 
amended; Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; Age 
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended; Executive Order 
11478; and all other statutes, Executive Orders, and regulatory 
provisions relating to workplace diversity, equal employment 
opportunity, nondiscrimination, and civil rights.
    (b) The Office has the following duties and responsibilities:
    (1) Through its Director, serves as the principal advisor to the 
Chairman and Commission officials on all aspects of workplace diversity, 
affirmative recruitment, equal employment opportunity, non-
discrimination, and civil rights;
    (2) Provides leadership and guidance to create a work environment 
that values and encourages diversity in the workplace;
    (3) Is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating 
programs and policies to foster a workplace whose diversity reflects the 
diverse makeup of the Nation, enhances the mission of the Commission, 
and demonstrates the value and effectiveness of a diverse workforce;
    (4) Is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating 
programs and policies that promote understanding among members of the 
Commission's workforce of their differences and the value of those 
differences and provide a channel for communication among diverse 
members of the workforce at all levels;
    (5) Develops, implements, and evaluates programs and policies to 
ensure that all members of the Commission's workforce and candidates for 
employment have equal access to opportunities for employment, career 
growth,

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training, and development and are protected from discrimination and 
harassment;
    (6) Develops and recommends Commission-wide workforce diversity 
goals and reports on achievements;
    (7) Is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating 
programs and policies to enable all Bureaus and Offices to manage a 
diverse workforce effectively and in compliance with all equal 
employment opportunity and civil rights requirements;
    (8) Works closely with the Associate Managing Director--Human 
Resources Management to ensure compliance with Federal and Commission 
recruitment and staffing requirements;
    (9) Manages the Commission's equal employment opportunity compliance 
program. Responsibilities in this area include processing complaints 
alleging discrimination, recommending to the Chairman final decisions on 
EEO complaints within the Commission, and providing counseling services 
to employees and applicants on EEO matters;
    (10) Develops and administers the Commission's program of 
accessibility and accommodation for disabled persons in accordance with 
applicable regulations;
    (11) Represents the Commission at meeting with other public and 
private groups and organizations on matters counseling workplace 
diversity and equal employment opportunity and workplace diversity 
issues;
    (12) Maintains liaison with and solicits views of organizations 
within and outside the Commission on matters relating to equal 
opportunity and workplace diversity.
[ 61 FR 2727 , Jan. 29, 1996]

                          Common Carrier Bureau