RAYTHEON ENTERS EEOC'S NATIONAL ADR 'REFERRAL BACK' PROGRAM

       

Defense/Aerospace Leader Joins Other Major Firms in Employing Innovative Program

                                                               

WASHINGTON  Cari M. Dominguez, Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), today announced that Raytheon, a global technology industry leader, has signed on to the EEOC's "referral back" program in seven geographic areas.  Under this program, an individual who has filed a discrimination charge against a participating employer may elect to have his or her charge put on hold for up to 60 days in order to provide the charging party and the employer an opportunity to resolve the dispute using the employer's existing alternative dispute resolution (ADR) program.  If the dispute is resolved through the employer-provided program, the charge will be closed pursuant to the EEOC's procedures governing withdrawal and settlement of charges.  If the dispute is not resolved, the EEOC will resume its processing of the charge.

   

"We commend Raytheon for participating in this innovative program," said Chair Dominguez.  " 'Referral Back' provides a unique opportunity to promptly resolve workplace disputes in an economical and cooperative manner."

   

Keith Peden, Raytheon's Senior Vice President of Human Resources, said, "We are delighted the EEOC has recognized Raytheon's alternative dispute resolution program for the National ADR 'referral back' program.  Raytheon's program seeks to protect employee rights while reducing workplace conflict by offering facilitated dialogue, independent fact finding, mediation and non-binding arbitration.  Raytheon's year-old ADR program is part of an overall conflict management system that includes training, human resources processes and case management.

   

"With our program," Peden continued, "we are communicating a symbolic message.  We are attempting to find a resolution for everyone."  Peden said Raytheon will employ 'referral back' in offices in California, Arizona, Texas, Kansas, Massachusetts, Florida, and the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.

     

The EEOC's "referral back" pilot was launched in April 2003 by the EEOC's Philadelphia District Office with the participation of four Fortune 500 companies.  Since then, several other employers in other areas have been added to the pilot program, and the EEOC anticipates that many more will make use of "referral back" once they learn of its merits.

     

The National ADR "referral back" program serves as a supplement to the EEOC's highly successful National Mediation Program, first implemented agency-wide in 1999.  Under "referral back," the EEOC refers charges back to those employer-provided internal ADR program mechanisms that meet the following criteria:

 

•   Participation by employees is voluntary;
   
•   The employer has an established program;
   
•   The program has clearly written procedures;
   
•   Participation is free to the employee;
   
•   The program addresses all claims and relief under EEOC-enforced statutes; and
   
•   Settlements obtained must be in writing and enforceable in court.

   

The EEOC enforces Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual harassment or pregnancy) or national origin and protects employees who complain about such offenses from retaliation; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, which protects workers age 40 and older from discrimination based on age; the Equal Pay Act of 1963; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits employment discrimination against people with disabilities in the federal sector; Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits employment discrimination against people with disabilities in the private sector and state and local governments; and sections of the Civil Rights Act of 1991.  Further information about the Commission is available on the agency's web site at  www.eeoc.gov.

   

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), with 2003 sales of $18.1 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft.  With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 78,000 people worldwide.