DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT PROCEDURE

 I. PURPOSE:


A. To be in compliance with Executive Order No. 61, Division of Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Administrative Order #3:03, and New Jersey Administrative Code 4A:7-3.3 and 3.4
 

B. The complaint process is provided for employees or applicants for employment, who believe they have been discriminated against.
 

 

II. DEFINITION:
The Discrimination Complaint Processing System is a formal process established to provide timely, uniform, state-wide procedures to be followed to review complaints of discrimination, and to ensure compliance with all laws and regulations relating to Equal Employment Opportunity.
 

 

III. PROCEDURE:
 

A. Any person who believes they have been discriminated against may file a complaint through the discrimination appeal process.

 
 

1. A discrimination complaint (appeal) must be in writing and must be filed within 20 calendar days of either the discriminatory action or the date on which the person should reasonably have known of the occurrence. The appeal must specify the basis for the complaint. The appeal must include the following:
 
 

a. Appellant's name, title and the department/agency where employed or seeking employment, and home mailing address.
b. The type of discrimination (i.e., race, sex) you are contending to have been subjected to by employees' agents of the department/agency.
c. Detailed, specific information concerning the charge of discrimination, including the date(s) of occurrence(s) and the name(s) and title(s) of person(s) involved.

 

2. Written complaints (appeals should be presented to the Affirmative Action Officer of the department/agency where the employee works or where the person applied for employment.
 

3. A copy of the appeal must be sent to the Department's Affirmative Action Officer for their signature.


B. Facilities Affirmative Action Representatives

 
 

1. Discuss with the appellant that they have the burden of proving discrimination. Situations must be cited and provided, if available, documentation to show that different treatment has occurred.
 

2. Inform the immediate supervisor of the complaint, as well as the department head of the appellant. Contact any witnesses to the alleged discriminatory act.
 

3. Investigate complaint, submit report of findings, conclusions and recommendations within fifteen (15) calendar days to the Chief Executive Officer and the Departmental Affirmative Action Officer. Copies of the Appeal Form are not to be given to respondents for their retention.
 

4. Whenever possible, complaints will be resolved at the facility's level.
 

5. A copy of the Chief Executive Officer's determination or any settlement negotiated at any step of the investigation should be sent to the Department's Affirmative Action Officer.
 

6. If upon completion of the investigation of the Appeal, the facility's Affirmative Action Officer, finds not probable cause to believe that there has been discrimination, findings should still be sent to the Department's Affirmative Action Officer for submission to the Division of EEO/AA.
 

7. Total facility process will not exceed 20 calendar days from initial filing of complaint.


C. Departmental Affirmative Action Officer

 
 

1. Review Facility's Affirmative Action Representative's report and Chief Executive Officer's decision.
 

2. Departmental Affirmative Action Officer will submit report to the Commissioner (The Adjutant General) who will issue a decision letter to the complainant within 45 calendar days of the initial complaint.


D. Total departmental process will not exceed 30 calendar days. Determinations to all formal complaints will be issued by the Commissioner within 45 calendar days. Upon written request, the complaint process may be extended to an additional fifteen (15) calendar days.
 

E. If the appellant does not agree with the decision rendered by the Commissioner they have 20 calendar days to appeal this decision in writing to the Division of Equal Employment Opportunity/ Affirmative Action.


AFFIRMATIVE ACTION  - 48-03-002

 

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