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FY 2005 Performance Budget

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission


Submitted to the
Congress of the United States

February 2004

"The American dream holds the promise of allowing individuals to rise as far and as high as their talents, abilities, and interests allow. It is our sacred duty to keep that dream alive for every worker."

-Cari M. Dominguez, Chair
Diversity & The Bar, March/April 2003

Our Vision

A Strong and Prosperous Nation Secured Through a Fair and Inclusive Workplace

Our Mission

We Promote Equality of Opportunity in the Workplace and Enforce Federal Laws Prohibiting Employment Discrimination


Table of Contents

  1. FISCAL YEAR 2005 PERFORMANCE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
    1. Challenges Facing the Commission
    2. Repositioning the Agency to Better Serve the Public
    3. Front line Resources Delivering Quality Service
  2. STRATEGIC FOCUS OF PERFORMANCE BUDGET
    1. EEOC's Five-Point Plan
    2. Integration of Elements of the Performance Budget
    3. Total Agency Staffing and Funding Profile

      Table 1:Total Agency Staffing and Funding Profile
    4. Analysis of Change
    5. Analysis of Change – Highlights
    6. Appropriation Language
    7. Object Class Schedule – Agency Summary
  3. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 1 – JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY
    1. Introduction

      Table 2:FY2005 Budget Request Summary for Justice and Opportunity
    2. Enforcement of Private Sector Charges
      Chart 1:Pending Inventory of Private Sector Administrative Charges For Fiscal Years 2001 through 2006
      Table 3:Private Sector Administrative Charge Processing and Mediation Workload Projections for Fiscal Year 2005
      Table 4:Private Sector Administrative Charge Processing and Mediation Workflow Analysis
      Table 5:Litigation Workload Projections for Fiscal Year 2005
    3. State and Local Programs
      Table 6:State and Local Workload Projections
    4. Federal Sector Enforcement
      1. Hearings
        Table 7:Hearings Workload Projections
      2. Appeals
        Table 8:Appeals Workload Projections
    5. Performance Measures for Strategic Objective 1–Justice and Opportunity
    6. Object Class Schedule–Strategic Objective 1: Justice and Opportunity
  4. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 2 – INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE
    1. Introduction

      Table 9: FY2005 Budget Request Summary–Inclusive Workplace
    2. Key Prevention Initiatives
      1. The President's New Freedom Initiative
      2. The EEOC's Freedom to Compete Initiative
      3. Federal Sector Programs
      4. Education, Technical Assistance and Training Revolving Fund
    3. Performance Measures for Strategic Objective 2– Inclusive Workplace
    4. Summary of Financing for Revolving Fund
    5. Object Class Schedule–Strategic Objective 2: Inclusive Workplace
    6. Object Class Schedule–EEOC Education, Technical Assistance and Training Revolving Fund
  5. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 3–ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE
    1. Introduction
    2. Highlighted Resource Areas for Strategic Objective 3

      Table 10: Highlighted Resource Areas in Organizational Excellence
    3. C.Performance Measures for Strategic Objective 3 – Organizational Excellence
  6. VI.VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION OF DATA
  7. VII.PROGRAM EVALUATION
  8. VIII.GENERAL STATEMENT OF LAWS
  9. IX.ADDENDUM: INTERIM ADJUSTMENTS TO STRATEGIC PLAN

I.FISCAL YEAR 2005 PERFORMANCE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC's) fiscal year 2005 performance budget reflects the continuation of a five-year workforce planning and agency repositioning effort that began with our fiscal year 2004 budget submission. The EEOC is requesting a budget of $350,754,000 for fiscal year 2005 to carry out its ambitious but needed plans. This request represents an increase of $26 million over the level in the fiscal year 2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act (including rescissions). The increase will assist with the implementation of several important strategic objectives and also fund various adjustments to our base. The specifics of the request are fully explained in the body of this document.

This fiscal year 2005 performance budget integrates our budget request with our new Strategic Plan objectives, performance measures, and related organizational performance plans and projections for fiscal years 2004 - 2009.

The performance budget supports three main funding themes:

  • provide fast, responsive, and high quality services by maintaining appropriate staffing and enhancing employee professionalism;
  • increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations by streamlining functional responsibilities, broadening the spans of control, reducing layers of management, and redeploying resources to our front-line, mission-related functions; and
  • enhance our delivery of services to better serve the public with a series of program initiatives.

Today, we carry out our responsibilities to prevent and eradicate employment discrimination against a backdrop of factors that have converged to make the American workplace far more complex and challenging than it has ever been. Shifting demographics, an explosion of technological innovations, globalization, and a heightened state of security have converged requiring us to be more flexible and adaptable in our enforcement role. Preventing and eradicating discrimination in a security-minded, distributive workplace that is multicultural, multi-generational and globally dispersed imposes new demands on our professional staff. To maintain our enforcement stature and effectiveness, we must undertake the initiatives and reforms outlined in the themes presented in this performance budget.

A.Challenges Facing the Commission

EEOC is now poised to effectively address the workplace changes being triggered by trends in the global marketplace and the federal workplace. However, approximately 80 percent of our budget is devoted to fixed costs (including compensation, benefits and rent), with the remaining amount primarily devoted to mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), litigation support, state and local programs, outreach, and technology. This situation leaves few resources to devote to human capital investments and transfers and reassignments to better balance our workload. Through this budget we seek the resources that will provide the necessary flexibility to respond quickly and effectively to change.

There is a need for better resource allocation and distribution nationwide to keep up with the demographic shifts and the changing business environment. There is a need to build a workforce that responds to the public's service needs, in all sectors, including those where we have a particular interest such as underserved rural areas, high tech regions, and small-and mid-sized businesses since these have become the fastest growing segments of our charge activity.

The hiring freeze, imposed in fiscal year 2001 and continued through fiscal years 2002 and 2003 remains in effect today. Since more than 50 percent of our current workforce is eligible for retirement, we continue to lose high performing, front-line professionals without being able to replace them within our current structure.

The combination of the external trends driving change in our country and the internal workplace constraints and limitations challenge our ability to maintain a high performing organization. Our funding request for fiscal year 2005 increases staff particularly for our mission-related programs, and recognizes that we must prepare them with the skills and techniques required to address changing employment situations.

We have succeeded in reducing our inventory of private sector charges and federal sector complaints over the past several years. We must continue to build on that success. However, we see a rising inventory of charges in the private sector through fiscal year 2005. With the requested resources and concomitant investigator, attorney and support staff hires, we will be able to return to a lower level of inventory by fiscal year 2006, simultaneously process a substantial number of charges within a 180-day time period, and maintain an effective litigation program.

We are requesting $21 million for this effort out of the $26 million increase over the level in the fiscal year 2004 Consolidated Appropriations Bill. See the Analysis of Change table, Subsection IID, on page 11.

B.Repositioning the Agency to Better Serve the Public

For the past year, we have embarked on a full scale review of our operations. The agency commissioned the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) to examine our service delivery infrastructure and make recommendations for improving performance and operational efficiencies. We made the NAPA report available to all of our stakeholders for review and solicited comments. Extensive meetings have been held with members of Congress and their staffs, other stakeholder groups, and EEOC employees to obtain further input into the repositioning process.

On September 8, 2003, the Commission held a public meeting that enabled us to gather more input from government reform experts, stakeholder organizations, and EEOC union and management leaders. All of the information and reports will help us find ways to reposition the agency's structure, which has been basically unmodified for nearly three decades, in order to respond to changing customer needs and our fiscal responsibilities. The long-term return on the increased investment requested in our front-line resources and the greater program impact will be long-lasting and far outweighs the costs.

We will pursue our repositioning aims in tandem with our initiatives to hire, train, and retain staff. Our fiscal year 2005 performance budget balances both critical needs, so that we can provide exceptional service to the public while changing the organization to respond more effectively and efficiently.

We are requesting a $3 million increase to specifically address our efforts to reposition the Commission to allow us to become more customer-centered and responsive to the needs of the public. See the Analysis of Change table, Subsection IID, on page 11.

C.Front line Resources Delivering Quality Service on a Timely Basis

The funding request includes one new program initiative to implement administration and congressional efforts and enhancements to existing programs, both designed to provide quality service on a timely basis to the public.

EEOC will continue to implement the reform of the Federal Sector Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) program. The reform revitalizes and refocuses the program which is widely recognized as overburdened, time-consuming, and costly.

In fiscal year 2001, President Bush launched the New Freedom Initiative – a comprehensive strategy for achieving full integration of individuals with disabilities into all aspects of the nation's social and economic life, including access to employment opportunities. EEOC is responsible for enforcing the employment title of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and works closely with other federal agencies and the White House to implement the New Freedom Initiative. EEOC is conducting a number of activities to advance the President's agenda including a request for $500,000 for a review of States' strategies for removing employment barriers faced by people with disabilities.

In addition, this funding request includes funds for existing program initiatives such as improvements to the Alternative Dispute Resolution program for additional contract funds because of a projected increase of employers agreeing to mediate; an increase in funds for the litigation program to offset increased litigation costs and to fund more high impact cases; and additional funds for improvements to the outreach, education and technical assistance program to conduct more outreach to both large and small employers and employees in diverse communities throughout the country.

For this effort, we are requesting $2 million out of the $26 million increase over the level in the fiscal year 2004 Consolidated Appropriations Bill. See the Analysis of Change table, Subsection IID, on page 11.

II.STRATEGIC FOCUS OF PERFORMANCE BUDGET

The structure of the performance budget for fiscal year 2005 is based on our new Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2004-2009, which was implemented on October 1, 2003. This performance budget integrates our strategic objectives, the EEOC's operational Five-Point Plan, and important program initiatives. With our requested resources for fiscal year 2005, in addition to advancing the three main funding themes, we will move the agency forward on several fronts to fulfill our mission and achieve our objectives.

A.EEOC's Five-Point Plan

EEOC's Five-Point Plan provides the framework for accomplishing our agency's mission and is central to the three overarching Strategic Objectives of our new Strategic Plan. The Five-Point Plan places a premium on coordination, innovation, and results. Under the Plan, all facets of EEOC's work will be viewed with an eye toward being more proactive and more effective.

Proactive Prevention

The best way to combat discrimination is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Under this element of the Five-Point Plan, we will proactively prevent discrimination by educating employees and employers and providing information that will help them identify and solve problems; serving as a clearinghouse of best practices; enhancing outreach activities; promoting sound workplace practices; introducing new and expanded outreach activities; and, better using available technology to communicate with the public and our stakeholders.

EEOC's Five-Point Plan
Proactive Prevention
Proficient Resolution
Promote and Expand Mediation/ADR
Strategic Enforcement and Litigation
EEOC as a Model Workplace

Proficient Resolution

EEOC must consistently deliver quality services timely and in a cost effective manner. Charge and complaint processing must be accurate, appropriate, and fair. Staff and other resources must be deployed to ensure the quality and timeliness of processing. We will enhance effective quality controls standards and mechanisms to measure our success in meeting this objective.

Promote and Expand Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution

Promoting and expanding mediation and other types of ADR is the centerpiece of our Five-Point Plan. Dispute resolution is intended to settle conflicts quickly, amicably, and cost-effectively. We will build on our earlier successes with ADR and use this tool in various stages of the private and federal sector processes to address employment disputes and continue to improve our services. Through marketing, information sharing, and outreach we will further encourage the use of ADR.

Strategic Enforcement and Litigation

EEOC will continue to address illegal discrimination through coordinated enforcement and focused litigation that ensures that we deploy agency resources wisely and effectively. We will analyze baseline information on enforcement and litigation activities; analyze and consider workplace trends, national and local issues, and industry information; and use other tools to enhance our efforts to remedy discrimination in the workplace.

EEOC as a Model Workplace

EEOC will set the standard for employer excellence. The principles and standards we promote to employers must be an integral part of our own operations. Our roadmap to achieve this objective is the President's Management Agenda (PMA), which addresses important enhancements to internal agency operations and the agency's interface with the public. This integration of the Five-Point Plan and other Administration and agency initiatives will build a model workplace where EEOC can effectively and efficiently accomplish our goals.

B.Integration of Elements of the Performance Budget

Our fiscal year 2005 Performance Budget integrates our new Strategic Plan's Strategic Objectives, our Five-Point Plan, and other programs and initiatives. This overall framework also guides our results-based performance measures from fiscal year 2004 through fiscal year 2009. These inter-relationships are illustrated below:

Strategic Objective 1 – Justice and Opportunity

Obtain justice for individuals experiencing employment discrimination and remove discriminatory barriers to employment opportunities. Strategies to achieve this objective are founded on three elements of our Five-Point Plan:

  • Proficient Resolution
  • Promote and Expand Mediation/ADR
  • Strategic Enforcement and Litigation

Strategic Objective 2 – Inclusive Workplace

Prevent discrimination and promote workplace policies and practices that foster an inclusive work culture. Strategies to achieve this objective are founded on one element of our Five-Point Plan:

  • Proactive Prevention

Strategic Objective 3 – Organizational Excellence

Establish an organizational infrastructure and professionalism to obtain the highest quality standards for equal opportunity, customer service, internal efficiency and fiscal responsibility. Strategies to achieve this objective are founded on the final element of our Five-Point Plan:

  • EEOC As A Model Workplace

C.Total Agency Staffing and Funding Profile

Private and Federal Sector Programs

EEOC has separate enforcement responsibilities in two areas – the private sector and the federal sector. In the private sector, we address equal employment opportunity in several ways. We interview potential charging parties, accept charges, and investigate charges alleging employment discrimination; make findings on the allegations; resolve charges through mediation, negotiated settlement, or conciliation; and litigate cases of employment discrimination. We engage in proactive efforts to prevent or remove discriminatory barriers to employment opportunities; by conducting outreach events and providing education and technical assistance to individuals, employers, and stakeholder groups. We also contract with Fair Employment Practices Agencies (FEPAs) responsible for addressing employment discrimination within their respective state and local jurisdictions and work with Native-American Tribal Employment Rights Organizations (TEROs) to promote employment opportunities for Native Americans on or near a reservation. In the federal sector, we hold hearings on complaints of discrimination filed in federal agencies; decide appeals of complaints of discrimination; and engage in proactive efforts to prevent or remove discriminatory barriers to employment opportunities in the federal government.

Resource Allocations

This fiscal year 2005 performance budget aligns our staffing and funding request with the two mission-related Strategic Objectives in our new Strategic Plan–Justice and Opportunity and Inclusive Workplace. Allocations are further distributed among our programs incorporating elements of our Five-Point Plan and several important initiatives. Also incorporated within these two Strategic Objectives are staffing and resource allocations contributing towards achieving Strategic Objective 3, Organizational Excellence. All of our efforts to become a more proficient and effective organization are ultimately designed to support our mission-related work.

We have aggregated under the Organizational Excellence umbrella some of the resources requested in this budget to emphasize a few important initiatives. These resources are already distributed between Strategic Objectives 1 and 2; however, some of the funds necessary to accomplish our programs are highlighted in Strategic Objective 3.

In the fiscal year 2004 performance budget, we aligned resources with our broad strategic goals. In this fiscal year 2005 performance budget, we have expanded alignment of resources to our major programs using an updated survey of time spent on major activities. We may use an automated system in fiscal year 2004 that will allow us to begin to capture time spent by activity within program and strategic objective. We will also begin activity-based costing and better align resources in subsequent performance budget submissions and comply with the current cost accounting standard.

Table 1 below displays the EEOC's total agency staffing and funding profile by Strategic Objective and program for fiscal years 2003 through 2005.

TABLE 1: Total Agency Staffing and Funding Profile

(Dollars in thousands*)

  FY 2003
(Actual)
FY 2004
(Estimate)
FY 2005
(Request)
Change From FY04
(+/-)
Strategic Objective 1: Justice and Opportunity
Private Sector $222,024 $211,181 $229,577 $18,396
Federal Sector $39,181 $37,267 $40,514 $3,247
State and Local Programs $32,767 $32,653 $33,000 $347
Total Strategic Objective 1 $293,972 $281,101 $303,091 $21,990
Strategic Objective 2: Inclusive Workplace
Outreach–Education-Tech Assistance $27,767 $43,843 $47,663 $3,820
Total Strategic Objective 2
(includes $500,000 in FY 2005 in support of the President's New Freedom Initiative
$27,767 $43,843 $47,663 $3,820
Agency Total 1
(includes Strategic Objective 3 Resources)
$321,739 $324,944 $350,754 $25,810
Total Full Time Equivalents 2,617 2,540 2,640 100
Strategic Objective 3: Organizational Excellence2
Highlighted Resource Areas
[Technology and Workforce Repositioning]
(see Section V on page 57)
$17,264 $18,770 $23,772 $5,002

* may not add due to rounding

D.Analysis of Change

Fiscal Year 2005

(Dollars in thousands*)

  FTE Amount
Fiscal Year 2004 2,540 $324,944
Adjustments for average salary and benefits (104)  
Increases:    
Challenges Facing the Commission    
1. Annualization of FY2004 Pay raise (4.1%)   2,311
2. FY 2005 Pay Raise (1.5%)   2,567
3. Recognition of employee performance   354
4. Accessions 100 6,988
5. Fill existing vacancies 104 8,351
6. Technology Modernization   1,981
7. State and Local and General Operations   483
Repositioning the Agency to Better Serve the Public    
8. Workforce Repositioning (National Contact Center, etc.)   3,021
Front Line Resources Delivering Quality Service on a Timely Basis    
9. Program Increases for Alternative Dispute Resolution, Litigation Support, and Outreach   1,454
10. New Freedom Initiative   500
Subtotal – Increases 2,640 352,954
Reductions:    
1. Revolving Fund Reimbursement   (2,200)
Subtotal – Reductions 0 (2,200)
FY 2005 Request 2,640 350,754
Total Change FY 2004-2005 100 25,810

*may not add due to rounding

E.Analysis of Change–Highlights

Increases FTE Amount($000)
Challenges Facing the Commission
1. Annualization of FY 2004 Compensation and Benefits
First quarter FY2004 annualized amount (October - December) increased by estimated 4.1% effective January 2004. The $2,311,000 requested amount represents total annualization of pay for one quarter of the year.
0 $2,311
2. 2005 Pay Raise
Request includes proposed 1.5% pay raise, including locality pay and general pay raise, effective January 2005 for three-quarters of the fiscal year plus appropriate benefits consistent with Administration policy.
0 $2,567
3. Recognition of Employee Performance
Request includes funds for recognizing employee performance.
0 $354
4. Accessions
Provides for 100 additional enforcement staff (investigators, attorneys and support positions); helping the agency to maintain workload balances at acceptable levels.
100 $6,988
5. Fill existing vacancies
Provides for hiring to fill 104 existing vacancies; helping the agency to maintain workload balances at acceptable levels.
0 $8,351
6. Technology Modernization (includes restoring FY 2004 rescissions)
Provides for recurring information technology costs, including expansion of IT infrastructure to support electronic document management, continuation of e-government projects and program process streamlining initiatives. IT amount will increase total of IT investments to $18.8 million.
0 $1,981
7. State and local and general operations
Provides for fiscal year 2004 rescission adjustments for the state and local program ($346,000) and general operating expenses ($137,000), such as maintenance, security, subscriptions etc.
0 $483
Repositioning the Agency to Better Serve the Public
8. Workforce Repositioning
Provides $3,021,000 to continue EEOC's repositioning activities with a total investment of $5 million. Of this amount, $1,021,000 is for continued implementation of the National Contact Center; $2,000,000 is for office relocation costs, furniture/equipment purchases and employee development.
0 $3,021
Front Line Resources Delivering Quality Service on a Timely Basis
9. Program Increases

Alternative Dispute Resolution Program -
$820,000 Provides for additional contract funds to the Alternative Dispute Resolution program to fund additional mediations resulting from the increase of employers agreeing to mediate.

Litigation Support Program -
$430,000 Provides for increase to the litigation program to offset increased litigation costs and to fund more high impact cases.

Outreach Program -
$204,000 Provides for improvements to outreach, education and technical assistance program to conduct more outreach to both large and small employers and employees in diverse communities throughout the country.

0 $1,454
10. New Initiative

New Freedom Initiative -
$500,000 Provides funding for a review of States' strategies for removing employment barriers faced by people with disabilities. EEOC will disseminate the results of this review, including posting on EEOC web site to encourage widespread adoption of the "best practices".

0 $500
Reductions FTE Amount
($000)
1. Revolving Fund Reimbursement
Reimbursement from the Revolving Fund for compensation and benefits, rent, technology and other expenses.
0 -$2,200
Total Change from FY 2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act 100 $25,810

F.Appropriation Language

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

For necessary expenses of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as authorized by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (29 U.S.C. 206(d) and 621-634), the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991, including services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. §3109; hire of passenger motor vehicles as authorized by 31 U.S.C. 1343(b); non-monetary awards to private citizens; not to exceed $33,000,000 for payments to State and Local enforcement agencies for services to the Commission pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, as amended, sections 6 and 14 of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991, [$328,400,000] $350,754,000. Provided further, the Commission is authorized to make available for official reception and representation expenses not to exceed $2,500 from available funds. (Division B, H.R. 2673, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004.)

G.Object Class Schedule–Agency Summary

Requirements by Object Class
(Dollars in thousands*)
OBLIGATIONS BY OBJECT CLASS ($000) FY 2003
Actual
FY 2004
Estimate
FY 2005
Request
Personnel Compensation
11.1 Full-time permanent (FTP) 178,063 179,770 192,781
11.3 Other than FTP 3,174 3,272 3,348
11.5 Other personnel compensation 1,056 800 1,791
Total Personnel Compensation 182,293 183,842 197,920
12.1 Civilian personnel benefits 42,639 45,128 49,821
       
13.1 Benefits to former personnel 138 50 50
Total Compensation and Benefits 225,070 229,020 247,791
       
21.1 Travel of persons 2,268 2,114 2,824
21.1 Litigation Travel 464 422 561
22.0 Transportation of things 29 29 29
23.1 Other Rent/Communications 6,625 6,608 6,635
23.2 Rental payments to GSA 27,596 28,612 28,612
24.0 Printing and reproduction 278 275 280
25.0 Other services 16,639 14,955 20,434
25.0 Litigation Support 2,693 2,448 2,739
25.0 State & Local3 0 32,653 33,000
26.0 Supplies and materials 2,134 2,071 2,105
31.0 Equipment 5,742 5,737 5,744
41.0 State & Local 32,201 0 0
       
Total Other Objects 96,669 95,924 102,963
       
Agency Total4 321,739 324,944 350,754
       
Full Time Equivalents (FTE) 2,617 2,540 2,640

*may not add due to rounding

III. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 1 – JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY

Serve the public interest by obtaining justice for individuals who experience employment discrimination and by removing discriminatory barriers to create a level playing field.

A.Introduction

Our first Strategic Objective – Justice and Opportunity – is premised on the belief that our fundamental responsibility is to correct the wrongs of employment discrimination and bring justice and equal opportunity to the workplace. To fulfill this responsibility, we must improve our delivery of quality services to the public. We must enhance the public's confidence in our abilities to resolve charges of discrimination in a timely, accurate, and consistent manner. Our front-line enforcement programs in the private and federal sectors require a substantial investment in resources in fiscal year 2005 to ensure that we contain an expanding workload.

The budget request for fiscal year 2005 for Justice and Opportunity is $303,091,000. This amount will enable us to hire enforcement staff so a growing private sector workload can be contained during fiscal year 2005 and EEOC can begin to reduce it again by fiscal year 2006. The resources will enable us to maintain a vigorous litigation program including a balance between individual and high impact, resource-intensive cases. We will be able to continue to decrease the number of hearings cases and address a workload of appeals cases in the federal sector that are projected to grow, while continuing to implement federal sector reform initiatives. The request includes resources to assist our FEPA partners to process charges of discrimination within their state or local jurisdiction, enabling both the EEOC and FEPAs to serve the public better. Finally, the resources will support our endeavors to meet the performance measures under each of the three elements of the Five-Point Plan encompassed by Strategic Objective 1: Proficient Resolution, Promote and Expand Mediation/ADR and Strategic Enforcement and Litigation.

Table 2, below outlines our budget request for the enforcement programs included under Justice and Opportunity, Strategic Objective 1, for fiscal years 2003 through 2005 and Table 3 on page 25 shows the overall workload for each of these enforcement programs. The programs, the budget requested, and our performance measures are described in more detail in the subsequent sections.

TABLE 2: FY 2005 Budget Request Summary For Justice and Opportunity
(Dollars in thousands*)
  FY 2003 Actual FY 2004 Estimate FY 2005 Request
Enforcement of Private Sector Charges
Administrative Charge Processing
(excluding Mediation)
$144,316 $137,268 $149,225
Mediation $22,202 $21,118 $22,958
Litigation $55,506 $52,795 $57,394
State and Local Programs $32,767 $32,653 $33,000
Federal Sector Enforcement $39,181 $37,267 $40,514
Total: Justice and Opportunity5 $293,972 $281,101 $303,091

*may not add due to rounding

B.Enforcement of Private Sector Charges

Charge Processing and Mediation

The number of investigators available to process our private sector charges has decreased substantially since fiscal year 2001. Hiring freezes were offset to an extent by improving the agency's procedures and other approaches. For example, we enhanced our mediation and priority charge handling procedures. We have had success in increasing resolutions and reducing our inventory of private sector charges to a low of 29,041 charges in fiscal year 2002 and 29,368 charges in fiscal year 2003. We project however, that our workload will grow in fiscal years 2004 and 2005. A key component of our fiscal year 2005 budget request is the addition of enforcement staff to process charges.

Table 3 on page 25 provides workload information for private sector charges from fiscal year 2003 through fiscal year 2006. Although this performance budget is requesting funds for fiscal year 2005, we have provided a workload projection for fiscal year 2006 to demonstrate the dramatic effect we can have with the addition of enforcement staff during fiscal year 2005. Although the inventory pending at the end of a fiscal year is expected to increase from 29,368 charges for fiscal year 2003 to just under 42,000 charges for fiscal year 2005, we will be able to greatly reduce it to around 37,000 charges by the end of fiscal year 2006 with new enforcement staff in fiscal year 2005. Below, chart 1 depicts EEOC's pending inventory of private sector charges at the end of fiscal years 2001 through 2006.

Chart 1: Pending Inventory of Private Sector Administrative Charges For Fiscal Years 2001 through 2006

Image

Our private sector mediation program is an important tool for resolving charges quickly to the benefit of both employees and employers. The program has been very successful and has contributed to our ability over the past few years to reduce our inventory and resolve more charges within 180 days or less. Although very successful for the participants, the percentage of employers agreeing to mediate is considerably less than the percentage of charging parties agreeing to mediate. We have implemented a new performance measure to increase the number of employers agreeing to mediate charges so we can secure more charges entering the mediation process. We expect to enhance our mediation efforts in fiscal year 2005 with the additional resources we are requesting including the use of more contract mediators.

Although mediation reduces the average time it takes to resolve charges, it represents only approximately 8,000 resolved charges out of almost 84,000 resolutions estimated for fiscal year 2005. All of the additional resources requested for the private sector charge process, including the mediation program, will enable us to balance program requirements and reasonably address our increasing workload due to much needed enforcement staff. We will be able to drive the workload down to return to a lower inventory of private sector charges, while meeting our proactive prevention obligations under Strategic Objective 2 to provide education, training and technical assistance. The requested resources will also allow us to achieve our fiscal year 2005 performance targets and make the necessary incremental steps towards our longer-range goals in our Strategic Plan.

Table 3 on page 25 provides our workload projections for our administrative charge processing program and our mediation efforts for fiscal years 2003–2006. Table 4 on page 26 provides workload estimates by statute for fiscal years 2003–2005.

TABLE 3: Private Sector Administrative Charge Processing and Mediation Workload Projections For Fiscal Year 2005*
Workload/Workflow FY 2003 (Actual) FY 2004 (Estimate) FY 2005 (Estimate) FY 2006 (Estimate)
Workload
Total Pending Charges 28,924 29,368 37,343 41,561
Total Receipts 81,293 81,293 81,293 81,293
Net FEPA transfers 6,906 6,906 6,906 6,906
Total Workload 117,123 117,567 125,542 129,760
Resolutions
Successful Mediations 7,990 7,594 8,083 8,083
From Contract 1,688 1,502 2,052 2,052
From Staff 6,302 6,092 6,031 6,031
Administrative Enforcement Resolutions 79,765 72,630 75,898 84,485
Total Resolutions 87,755 80,224 83,981 92,568
Charges/Complaints Carried into Next Fiscal Year 29,368 37,343 41,561 37,192

*May not add due to rounding.

TABLE 4: Private Sector Administrative Charge Processing and Mediation Workflow Analysis6
Workload/Workflow by Statute FY 2003
(Actual)
FY 2004
(Estimate)
FY 2005
(Estimate)
Title VII Only
Charges filed 48,158 48,158 48,158
Charges resolved 52,044 47,578 49,806
Title VII with concurrents
Charges filed 58,973 58,973 58,973
Charges resolved 64,142 58,637 61,384
Age Discrimination in Employment Act Only
Charges filed 10,447 10,447 10,447
Charges resolved 11,180 10,221 10,699
Age Discrimination in Employment Act with concurrents
Charges filed 19,080 19,080 19,080
Charges resolved 20,651 18,879 19,763
Equal Pay Act Only
Charges filed 72 72 72
Charges resolved 63 58 60
Equal Pay Act with concurrents
Charges filed 1,160 1,160 1,160
Charges resolved 1,375 1,257 1,316
Americans with Disabilities Act Only
Charges filed 9,316 9,316 9,316
Charges resolved 10,106 9,239 9,671
Americans with Disabilities Act with concurrents
Charges filed 15,325 15,325 15,325
Charges resolved 16,839 15,394 16,115
Total
Charges filed 81,293 81,293 81,293
Charges resolved 87,755 80,224 83,981

Litigation

Field office legal staff perform two critical functions: they provide advice and counsel to enforcement staff in all phases of the administrative process of private sector charges, and they maintain an active and balanced litigation docket so that the EEOC has a visible enforcement presence in the courts. In addition, our legal staff members answer thousands of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests received from the public each year and participate in agency outreach programs under Strategic Objective 2.

Although the number of attorney staff members has declined consistently since the August 2001 hiring freeze, we have strived to maintain a workload of more than 800 cases in litigation each year. Our projected workload for FY 2004 is 827 cases; our lowest since FY 1999. The fiscal year 2005 budget request includes funding for attorney staff and support staff to enable us to increase the litigation filings and reverse the workload reduction that would fall below 800 cases in fiscal year 2005 without the requested resources.

The effectiveness of our litigation program should not only be measured by the number of cases. Cases that have a high impact on reducing discrimination and removing discriminatory barriers in the workplace are particularly significant. High impact cases frequently affect large numbers of individuals, including individuals not party to a case, and can lead to positive changes throughout a wide geographical area, industry, or employer community. A small attorney workforce may file a respectable number of cases, but high impact cases often require several attorneys working together and other significant resources to achieve results. In addition, the quality of the relief the agency obtains can be affected by the availability of legal staff and other resources.

TABLE 5: Litigation Workload Projections For Fiscal Year 2005
Workload FY 2003
(Actual)
FY 2004
(Estimate)
FY 2005
(Estimate)
Workload
Total Pending Lawsuits 510 527 477
Total Lawsuits Filed During the Fiscal Year 361 300 350
Total Legal Workload 871 827 827
Resolutions 344 350 320
Legal Workload Carried into Next Fiscal Year 527 477 507

C.State and Local Programs

The performance budget request for fiscal year 2005 includes $33 million for state and local programs. The Commission has developed strong partnerships with the many state and local FEPAs and the Native-American Tribal Employment Rights Organizations (TEROs). Our work-sharing agreements and other activities have benefitted the employer and employee communities by coordinating the investigation of charges dual-filed under state and local law and federal law where appropriate; by providing training on investigative and legal issues; and by conducting joint activities such as outreach. For example, in fiscal year 2003, we contracted with 92 FEPAs to resolve dual-filed charges. This arrangement prevents duplication of effort and streamlines the charge resolution process. We also contracted with 64 TEROs to promote equal employment opportunity on or near Indian reservations.

Our collaborative efforts have helped advance equal employment opportunity nationwide. We will continue contractual and technical assistance efforts with the FEPAs and the TEROs. Table 6 on page 29 summarizes the State and Local Programs' projected workload and results for fiscal years 2003 through 2005.

TABLE 6: State and Local Workload Projections
WORKLOAD FY 2003
(Actual)
FY 2004
(Estimate)
FY 2005
(Estimate)
Charges/Complaints Pending 65,833 59,335 52,837
Charges/Complaints Received 61,998 61,998 61,998
       
Total Workload 127,831 121,333 114,835
       
Charges/Complaints Resolved 61,590 61,590 61,590
Charges/Complaints Deferred to EEOC 6,906 6,906 6,906
Charges/Complaints Carried Into Next Fiscal Year 59,335 52,837 46,339

D.Federal Sector Enforcement

We have had success recently in the Federal Sector reform in controlling our hearings and appeals inventory, in promoting efforts to resolve conflicts more quickly including ADR efforts, and in promoting the prevention of discrimination. Our Federal Sector reforms will enable us to make further improvements as the initiative is implemented in the future.

1. Hearings

In the past few years, we have achieved significant progress in curbing the growth in the hearings inventory. We implemented revised regulations in early fiscal year 2000, which continue to positively impact on the EEOC's workload in the hearings process. These revisions made the hearings process more efficient and fair by reducing the number of hearings and avoiding the fragmentation of claims. Even though the revisions expanded the scope of the legal claims and evidence presented at each hearing and the responsibilities of EEOC's administrative judges, our own use of ADR in our own federal sector processes and our requirement that federal agencies offer ADR programs during their own complaint processing programs contributed to the resolution of 30.5 percent more hearings in fiscal year 2003. Resolutions are continuing to decrease, and the overall workload is decreasing in fiscal year 2004 and 2005.

Table 7 shows the estimated hearings workload for fiscal years2003 through 2005. We expect to continue making significant inroads into resolving our pending inventory of hearings cases and resolving more complaints at the hearings stage within 180 days, particularly as reforms take effect.

TABLE 7: HEARINGS WORKLOAD PROJECTIONS
WORKLOAD FY 2003
(Actual)
FY 2004
(Estimate)
FY 2005
(Estimate)
Hearings Pending 10,904 8,467 7,387
Hearings Requests Received 9,918 9,918 9,918
Hearings Requests Consolidated After Initial Processing7 (125) (125) (125)
Total Workload 20,697 18,260 17,180
Hearings Resolved 12,230 10,873 10,112
Hearings Year-End Balance 8,467 7,387 7,068

2. Appeals

Our federal sector program decides appeals from administrative decisions made by federal agencies on complaints of employment discrimination. We have achieved positive results the past few fiscal years in dramatically reducing the number, age, and processing time of pending appeals. In fiscal year 2002, we reduced by 77 percent the inventory of appeals more than 500 days old. We continued this trend in FY 2003, further reducing the inventory of appeals more than 500 days old by 76 percent. We also processed 44 percent of the appeals received in fiscal year 2003 within 180 days. As a result, our year-end inventory was comprised of more than 85 percent of appeals that had been filed that same fiscal year, keeping our inventory of appeals current.

We project in Table 8, however, that new appeals will steadily increase, while available appellate attorney staff will decrease, resulting in the appellate inventory increasing in fiscal year 2005 to the level slightly above where it was at the end of fiscal year 2002. We expect to manage this increase in several ways. We will deploy new technologies,including computerized decision templates, online research, computerized knowledge management software, and the use of more paperless complaint files. We will continue to deploy appellate inventory management pilots like our successful Federal Appellate Inventory Review (FAIR) project where appeals are prioritized and special issues identified early. Finally, we will continue to implement our federal sector reforms with existing resources.

TABLE 8: APPEALS WORKLOAD PROJECTIONS
WORKLOAD FY 2003
(Actual)
FY 2004
(Estimate)
FY 2005
(Estimate)
Appeals Pending 4,809 3,831 4,092
Appeals Received 7,035 7,246 7,463
Total Workload 11,844 11,077 11,555
Appeals Resolved 8,013 6,985 6,526
Appeals Year-End Balance 3,831 4,092 5,029

E.Performance Measures for Strategic Objective 1 – Justice and Opportunity

Our new Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2004-2009 links our broad Strategic Objectives to the agency's Five Point Plan. Strategic objective 1, Justice and Opportunity relates to three of the elements of our Five-Point Plan–Proficient Resolution, Promote and Expand Mediation/ADR and Strategic Enforcement and Litigation. It also identifies our long-term goals to achieve results in each of these areas. The measures, target values for fiscal year 2005, and the results we expect to achieve with each measure are described below within each Five-Point Plan element.

Measures for Proficient Resolution
  2000 2001 2002 2003
(Actual)
2004 2005
(Proposed)
1.1.1. By FY 2009, ensure that at least 75%8 of private sector charges will be resolved within 180 days.
Target   60% 60% 60% 65% 70%
Results   64% 65.6% 68.9% -  
1.1.2. By FY 2009, ensure that at least 50% of federal sector hearings will be resolved within 180 days.
Target   20% 20% 20% 35% 38%
Results   19.4% 24.4% 30.5% - -
1.1.3. By FY 2009, ensure that at least 70% of federal sector appeals will be resolved within 180 days.
Target 10% of cases received in FY 2000 20% of cases received in FY 2001 20% of cases received in FY 2002 20% of cases received in FY 2003 45% of cases received in FY 2004 50% of cases received in FY 2005
Results 21.9% 39.5% 40.3% 44.8% - -

[NOTE: The remaining measures in this Performance Budget are new as of fiscal year 2004.]

  2004 2005
(Proposed)
1.1.4. By FY 2009, reviews of investigative files indicate that the percentage of files meeting established criteria for quality is at [TBD]%* or higher.
Target Define criteria to evaluate quality and develop system to collect information Establish target value for FY2005 and set FY2009 target value for the measure
Results - -
1.1.5. By FY 2009, the general public rates their confidence in EEOC's enforcement of federal equal employment laws at [TBD]%* or higher.
Target Design survey methodology, conduct survey(s), establish baseline of confidenceSet target values for FY2005-2009 [FY2005 target value set in FY2004 will be inserted]
Results - -

*[TBD]=[To Be Determined]

Timeliness, quality, public confidence – these are key measures of our success as an agency and are important elements of proficiently resolving our work. Our fiscal year 2005 measures address all of these areas.

Our goal to resolve 75 percent of the private sector charges within 180 days builds upon our steady success in recent years in reducing the average time to process charges. The current target value for fiscal year 2005 balances prompt service in our private sector processes with the need to devote resources to charges that take longer to process because of the type of meritorious or complex claims involved.

Similarly, in our federal sector program, we have established challenging goals to process hearings and appeals more timely. In fiscal year 2005, proactive resolution will be supported by a more streamlined federal complaint system to ensure more timely resolutions.

As of fiscal year 2003, 30.5 percent of federal sector hearings were resolved within 180 days. Our long-range goal is to increase this rate to 50 percent. Our intermediate target for fiscal year 2005 is to resolve 38 percent of our hearings cases within 180 days. Our coordinated initiatives will provide substantive and operational support and oversight towards the resolution of hearings cases to help prepare decisions more expeditiously. Our administrative judges who conduct hearings on discrimination complaints filed against federal agencies will be provided enhanced guidance and assistance. The hearings workload will be monitored by analyzing hearings' data and evaluating staffing needs and the quality of administrative judges' work. We will continue to expand the use of ADR to resolve complaints at the hearings stage. Federal sector appellate legal tools will be made available to assist administrative judges in processing hearings efficiently by making available fully researched and computerized legal language for inclusion in findings and decisions and fully-searchable past decisions on the agency's Intranet site.

We have a goal to resolve 70 percent of our federal sector appeals within 180 days by fiscal year 2009. As of fiscal year 2003, 44.8 percent were resolved within this time frame. Because we are projecting an increase in new appeals in FY 2004, while available appellate attorney staff will decrease, we have set a goal to resolve 45% of the new appeals received this fiscal year within 180 days, thereby maintaining the progress achieved on this measure. By fiscal year 2005, we will improve the rate of resolving appeals within 180 days to 50 percent; making steady gains towards our long-range target as many of the streamlining efforts and other federal sector reforms take hold. As the federal sector enforcement staff successfully resolve the older appellate inventory, resources will be deployed to resolve an increasing percentage of newly filed appeals within 180 days. We expect to achieve our goal in this area with staffing adjustments, appellate inventory management pilots, and new procedures developed from federal sector reforms.

Timeliness is an important measure itself, but it must go hand-in-hand with quality to make it truly efficient. Quality cannot be sacrificed for speed. Our quality review measures address this concern. Although the agency has always used quality review techniques, with our new measure we will use methodologies and develop more elaborate criteria to assess quality in our case work to assure that we simultaneously improve quality and timeliness in our work.

Our final indicator of success as an agency is the public's view of our effectiveness in enforcing employment discrimination statutes, regulations, and executive orders in our private sector and federal sector programs. In fiscal year 2005, as a key component of assessing Proficient Resolution in our work, we will survey members of the public to determine how familiar they are with our enforcement efforts and to what extent they believe that we have responsibly and effectively addressed workplace discrimination. Our assumption is that they will more than likely come to us for assistance and trust that we will capably handle their complaint if they know their rights and responsibilities and believe we will address workplace discrimination. If we are viewed as a fair and just enforcer of the civil rights employment laws, employers, attorneys and members of the general public will have confidence in our impartial role as a law enforcement agency.

Measures to Promote and Expand Mediation/ADR
  2004 2005
(Proposed)
1.2.1. Assess the contributions of EEOC's private sector mediation/ADR program towards improved workplaces.
Target Establish procedures to conduct all agency Program Evaluations(see page 69) Conduct FY2005 Program Evaluation study to determine program achievements(seepage70)
Results - -
1.2.2. By FY 2006, increase by 20 percent the number of private sector employers that agree to participate in mediation from the fiscal year 2003 baseline.
Target Maintain FY2003 baseline level of employer acceptances to participate in mediation 8.5%
Results - -
1.2.3. The percentage of respondents and charging parties that report confidence in EEOC's private sector mediation program is 90 percent or higher.
Target Maintain 90% Maintain 90%
Results - -
1.2.4. By FY 2009, increase the percentage of federal employees who participate in ADR during the pre-complaint stage of the EEO process to 50 percent or higher.
Target 25% 30%
Results - -

Our four measures for Promote and Expand Mediation/ADR support this element of the Five-Point Plan in several ways. The measures assess the advantages of our mediation efforts in the workplace environment; measure the increase in participation in mediation/ADR in both the private and federal sectors; and, measure our ability to maintain a high level of confidence in EEOC's mediation program. We will assess the advantages of mediation in the workplace by documenting the benefits of mediation, for example, reductions in unnecessary costs and conflicts, fostering of amicable working relationships, and enhancing employee satisfaction and productivity.

A study of the EEOC's private sector mediation program has shown that participants have indicated a high level of satisfaction in the process, regardless of the outcome of their disputes. Through a program evaluation to assess our achievements under our measure, we will build upon past studies and document the many positive contributions that mediation brings to the workplace. We intend to increase participation of employers in private sector mediation by convincing more employers of the benefits of mediation. Our goal by fiscal year 2006 is to have 20 percent more employers agreeing to participate in mediation over a baseline of more than 13,000 employers who agreed in fiscal year 2003. This translates into over 2,600 additional employers who will participate in our program during the three year period of this measure. Although we will maintain the number of employer acceptances in fiscal year 2004, we will increase it by 8.5 percent in fiscal year 2005 on our way to our final goal. We want to maintain a high level of confidence in the EEOC's mediation program in order to bring about the types of positive changes to the workplace described above. In addition to contributing to a more positive and productive working environment, all of these measures will demonstrate that private sector mediation is a powerful tool for increasing the public's confidence in the fair and prompt resolution of employment discrimination disputes.

In the federal sector, we aim to increase the use of ADR techniques at the pre-complaint stage, the stage before a formal complaint of employment discrimination is filed with a federal agency. Using ADR can have a powerful impact on federal agencies' EEO complaint inventories and, in turn, EEOC's hearings and appeals inventories. Resolving disputes as early as possible in the federal sector EEO process will improve the work environment and reduce the number of formal complaints, allowing all agencies, including the EEOC, to redeploy resources otherwise devoted to these activities.

At the agency level, matters raised at the pre-complaint stage rose while formal complaints decreased between fiscal years 2001 and 2002. There were 47,658 EEO matters raised in fiscal year 2001, which grew to 55,441 in fiscal year 2002. The formal EEO complaints dropped from 23,301 filed in fiscal year 2001 to 21,945 in fiscal year 2002. As a percent of EEO matters, filed formal complaints dropped from 48.8 percent to 39.6 percent, respectively. Our efforts to increase the percentage of ADR efforts at other federal agencies at the pre-complaint stage should continue this trend.

The goal for our federal sector ADR measure is to increase ADR participation to 50 percent or higher at the pre-complaint stage. In fiscal year 2002, there were 55,441 EEO matters raised during the pre-complaint, informal process with an agency EEO Counselor or an ADR Intake Officer. In 12,800 of them, or 23 percent, individuals agreed to participate in the ADR process during the pre-complaint stage. By increasing the ADR participation rate, we expect to see a significant decrease in the number of formal complaints filed which will reduce costs for both complainants, the EEOC, and other federal agencies and provide faster resolutions of the issues raised.

We have established a target of 30 percent participation in ADR at the pre-complaint stage for fiscal year 2005, which is building towards our ultimate goal of 50 percent by fiscal year 2009. To enhance this participation, in fiscal year 2004 and 2005 we will increase our outreach and educational activities by including a user-friendly ADR web-page to showcase ADR policies and practices in the federal sector in conjunction with our proactive prevention activities. Over the next two fiscal years, we will partner with several federal agencies to identify ADR best practices to share throughout the federal community and develop an ADR assessment tool to assist agencies in initiating or improving their ADR programs. We will promote and expand the use of ADR by continuing our initiative to develop training modules to improve the quality and effectiveness of federal agencies' ADR programs. The modules include courses for managers and supervisors on the benefits of ADR as a management tool; for federal employees on the benefits of ADR and its availability to resolve workplace disputes as an alternative to other complaint processes; and for mediators of federal EEO cases on EEO law and procedures.

Once a request for a hearing has been filed with us, we will expand our efforts to use ADR at the hearings stage to resolve the complaint without the need for a formal hearing. Our administrative judges and other staff will use settlement, mediation, and other ADR techniques to reach early and mutually satisfactory resolutions for the parties. Our consistent and expanded use of ADR will contribute to and continue the trend in the reduction in our hearings inventory and the timeliness of hearings resolutions. See Hearings Workload, Table 7, on page 30.

Measures for Strategic Enforcement and Litigation
  2004
(Proposed)
2005
(Proposed)
1.3.1. By FY 2009, [TBD]%* of private sector resolutions, where EEOC is a party, result in improvements to employment policies, practices or procedures.
Target Design survey methodology, conduct survey(s), establish baseline level for improvementsSet target values for FY2005-2009 [FY2005 target value set in FY2004 will be inserted]
Results - -
1.3.2. EEOC's high impact litigation and publicity efforts subsequently change workforce status of affected groups and/or improves employment policies, practices or procedures in affected workplaces.
Target Establish procedures to conduct all agency Program Evaluations(see page 69) Prepare for FY2008 Program Evaluation study to determine program achievements, by researching and collecting relevant data and other information during intervening fiscal years(see page 71)
Results - -
1.3.3. The success rate of EEOC's lawsuits is 90 percent or higher for the period ending in FY 2009.
Target 90% or higher 6-yr rolling average 90% or higher 6-yr rolling average
Results - -
1.3.4. EEOC's federal sector program evaluations and technical assistance efforts result in federal agencies improving employment policies, practices and procedures.
Target Establish procedures to conduct all agency Program Evaluations(see page 69)Pilot evaluations of 5 agency EEO programs. Improve agency evaluation approaches and prepare for FY2009 Program Evaluation study to determine program achievements, by using pilot results and researching and collecting relevant data and other information during intervening fiscal years(see page 71)
Results - -

*[TBD]=[To Be Determined]

The four measures for the Strategic Enforcement and Litigation element of the EEOC's Five-Point Plan focus on improving workplace policies, practices and procedures; improving working conditions in a broad array of workplaces; and maximizing the impact of our litigation program. Our success in three of these measures depends directly on our litigation program.

Charged with protecting the public interest and remedying employment discrimination, it is important that we ensure that our enforcement efforts result in victim-specific relief as well as improved employment policies, practices and procedures. We regularly track the amount of monetary benefits received through administrative and litigation resolutions. However, we have not comprehensively tracked prospective improvements in the workplace. While obtaining monetary benefits is crucial to the fulfillment of our public interest role, it is only part of the mosaic of positive changes that can be brought about by our enforcement and litigation programs.

We recognize the importance of non-monetary relief to remedy and deter employment discrimination and have established a new performance measure to place renewed emphasis on achieving this form of relief. In those private sector cases where we participate, we will increase the percentage of resolutions that result in improvements to employer policies, practices, and procedures. We cannot establish any targets for this measure at this time because our offices were not required to consistently enter this information into our data bases in the past. Although incomplete, preliminary data for fiscal years 1998 through 2002 indicate that improvements in policies, practices or procedures were obtained in 9.0 percent to 12.8 percent of our administrative resolutions over this period.

As a first step to implement this performance measure, we will modify our data tracking systems to capture information about changes to employment policies, practices, and procedures from our administrative and litigation resolutions. Once we obtain baseline data, we will establish annual target values through fiscal year 2009, including a target for fiscal year 2005. We will emphasize for our enforcement and legal staff the importance of securing non-monetary relief, where appropriate, while ensuring that monetary relief is not compromised.

Many of our litigated cases have an impact beyond the workplace environment of the parties to the dispute. We want to assess the ripple effect of our litigation on the workforce status of affected groups or on improvements to employment policies, practices, or procedures in workplaces within a geographic community, an industry, or even among the employer community generally. We will identify specific cases (filed or resolved) that have a potential to have a broader impact in the workplace because of their precedent-setting scope or the issues involved within particular geographical regions or industries or even within the employer community generally. Knowledge of our high-impact cases through our own publicity efforts or other methods serves the public interest by breaking down barriers to equal employment opportunity. This measure is primarily qualitative, rather than quantitative, and we will use a program evaluation approach instead of numerical targets to assess our progress. Beginning in fiscal year 2004, we will formulate criteria for identifying "high-impact" litigation; better define the characteristics of workforce status we expect to observe; and enhance our strategies for effectively publicizing our high impact litigation efforts. With the criteria and strategies in place, we will evaluate in fiscal year 2008 the extent to which our identified high impact cases have affected specific groups and improved workplace policies, practices, or procedures.

Another measure of our strategic enforcement and litigation area is to continue our success rate for resolving our lawsuits at 90 percent or higher. The target value established for this measure is a six-year nationwide rolling average ending in fiscal year 2009 at 90 percent or higher, an average for the entire six-year period. It is important to maintain this high level to aid our efforts to deter and remedy discrimination in the workplace. However, we are balancing our approach by using the averaging method over the long term to reduce influences that might deter the selection of more difficult or novel cases for litigation. Successful resolutions include cases decided by favorable court order and those concluded through a consent decree or a settlement agreement. A study of our litigation program for five fiscal years (1997 to 2001) showed the success rate averaging approximately 91 percent, which demonstrates our ability to achieve this level of success. The 90 percent target value ensures that we will continue to exercise our prosecutorial discretion responsibly while taking on emerging issues and trends.

One of the most important mechanisms in our federal sector program is our authority to conduct evaluations of federal agency EEO programs. Using an evaluation tool enables us to help federal agencies ascertain whether their EEO programs and practices are in compliance with the relevant statutes and regulations EEOC enforces and whether their EEO programs are achieving the purposes for which they were established. We will begin to use a more structured approach to conducting these evaluations and assisting agencies. In particular, we will utilize a new Program Evaluation Handbook when assessing agency EEO programs and provide agencies with an Agency Self-Assessment Guide that they can use to ensure that they are implementing efficient and effective EEO programs.

The results of our federal sector strategic enforcement measure will be assessed with a Program Evaluation study in fiscal year 2009. Using surveys and other assessment techniques we will collect and analyze information to determine how successfully the EEOC's evaluations of federal agencies positively impact on their EEO program activities. The results will be shared with federal agency EEO program leadership in a partnership effort to continue improvements in federal EEO programs and to enable us to tailor our future assistance to better serve our federal agency customers in developing workplaces free of employment discrimination.

F. Object Class Schedule – Strategic Objective 1: Justice and Opportunity

Requirements by Object Class
(Dollars in thousands*)
OBLIGATIONS BY OBJECT CLASS ($000) FY 2003
Actual
FY 2004
Estimate
FY 2005
Request
Personnel Compensation
11.1 Full-time permanent (FTP) 161,053 152,525 163,870
11.3 Other than FTP 2,857 2,781 2,846
11.5 Other personnel compensation 950 680 1,576
Total Personnel Compensation 164,860 155,986 168,292
12.1 Civilian personnel benefits 38,606 38,278 42,348
       
13.1 Benefits to former personnel 124 42 42
Total Compensation and Benefits 203,590 194,306 210,682
       
21.1 Travel of persons 1,881 1,632 2,084
21.1 Litigation Travel 464 422 561
22.0 Transportation of things 26 25 25
23.1 Other rent/Communications 5,962 5,617 5,639
23.2 Rental payments to GSA 24,836 24,320 24,320
24.0 Printing and reproduction 250 234 238
25.0 Other services 15,037 12,807 17,130
25.0 Litigation Support 2,693 2,448 2,739
25.0 State & Local9 0 32,653 33,000
26.0 Supplies and materials 1,864 1,761 1,790
31.0 Equipment 5,168 4,876 4,883
41.0 State & Local 32,201 0 0
Total Other Objects 90,382 86,795 92,409
       
Agency Total10 293,972 281,101 303,091

*may not add due to rounding

IV.STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 2 – INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE

Strengthen America's workplace by preventing discrimination and promoting workplace policies and practices that foster an inclusive work culture.

A.Introduction

We believe that the best way to combat workplace discrimination is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Through outreach, education, and technical assistance, we seek to prevent unlawful exclusionary practices and to direct the nation toward sound workplace practices that foster a level playing field. Educating employers and workers about their rights and responsibilities under the law is the first step toward an inclusive work culture – where all workers are judged on their talents and abilities without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, or disability.

The EEOC recognizes that many employers and employees today are committed to equal employment principles. Our prevention efforts seek to strengthen our shared responsibility for implementing these principles and to extend this commitment to the next generations of employees. This is increasingly important as our society becomes more diverse and new challenges to equal opportunity arise.

Our Inclusive Workplace objective encompasses all of the agency's outreach, education, and technical assistance activities. Fee-based programs are developed and provided under the EEOC Education,Technical Assistance, and Training Revolving Fund (Revolving Fund). Additionally, a wide variety of our staff provide outreach, education, and technical assistance to members of the public at no cost. We provide this information and assistance using EEOC employees from the private sector programs, including legal staff; from the federal sector programs; from our Revolving Fund program; and from our partnership with state and local program Fair Employment Practices Agencies (FEPAs).

Our budget request for fiscal year 2005 for Strategic Objective 2, Inclusive Workplace, is $47,663,000, which does not include EEOC's Revolving Fund. The proposed request will permit us to conduct more outreach, to get our message to large and small employers and to diverse communities throughout this country, to achieve increased awareness of and compliance with EEO laws, and reduce discrimination in the workplace. One of the proposed initiatives is new and other initiatives are an expansion of our current efforts funded with existing resources. Additional resources are needed to strengthen our prevention efforts and achieve intended results. Table 9 provides the funding estimates for Strategic Objective 2 for fiscal years 2003–2005.

TABLE 9: FY2005 Budget Request Summary–Inclusive Workplace
(Dollars in thousands*)
  FY 2003
(Actual)
FY 2004
(Estimate)
FY 2005 (Request)
Outreach, Education, Technical Assistance (Non-fee based) $27,767 $43,843 $47,663
Revolving Fund (Fee based) $4,057 $4,249 $4,235
       
Total:Inclusive Workplace(including the Revolving Fund) 31,824 48,092 51,898

*may not add due to rounding

B. Key Prevention Initiatives

The Five-Point Plan emphasizes Proactive Prevention – a belief that preventing discrimination is an important part of our mission. In fiscal year 2005, the agency will devote a greater portion of our resources to proactive prevention efforts. We will increase our outreach, education, and technical assistance efforts. On the following pages, we highlight specific initiatives that will enable the agency to be more proactive in our efforts to prevent or reduce barriers to employment discrimination.

1. The President's New Freedom Initiative

The goal of the President's New Freedom Initiative (NFI) is to fully integrate individuals with disabilities into all aspects of the nation's social and economic life. In fiscal year 2005, we are requesting $500,000 to implement a substantial program to remove discriminatory barriers and level the playing field in the employment setting for individuals with disabilities. More specifically, the funding will allow the EEOC to conduct a review of states' strategies for removing employment barriers faced by people with disabilities. EEOC will disseminate the results of this review, including posting them on our web site (www.eeoc.gov), to encourage widespread adoption of the "best practices".

Since states can serve as models, it is important to ensure that they promote employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities even in the face of economic difficulties and the limited ability of private legal actions to enforce the ADA against state employers. In partnership with governors, state government officials and their staffs, and disability commissions and boards, we will review state policies, employment practices, and data to identify and disseminate best practices related to the employment, retention, and advancement of qualified individuals with disabilities in state government. We will provide free and confidential technical assistance to states concerning identified barriers to employment.

2. The EEOC's Freedom to Compete Initiative

We have implemented the EEOC's Freedom to Compete Initiative in a multi-phased approach. This initiative complements the NFI by fostering a level playing field for all individuals to have equal employment opportunities. During the first phase of the initiative, we engaged a cross-section of stakeholders in a dialogue about EEOC and explored with them how we could broaden our presence and more proactively address 21st century workplace issues. During fiscal year 2005, we will continue to partner, develop alliances, and use other collaborative efforts to engage stakeholders in efforts to influence the opinions of leaders in the business community and make changes in the workplace.

3. Federal Sector Programs

Our continued federal sector reforms will encourage federal agencies to enhance their own proactive efforts to prevent discrimination. We will use resources to continue federal sector reforms in fiscal year 2005. We will work with agencies to promote workplace policies and practices that foster an inclusive work culture and prevent employment discrimination. This effort includes working with federal agencies to adopt and successfully implement the elements of the EEOC's Model EEO Program. We will assist agencies to implement this program. For example, we will issue guidance on elements of a successful Model EEO Program. We will develop and use an assessment process to promote, monitor, and track compliance in the management of an agency's EEO program. In a collaborative effort, we will engage federal agencies' leadership to assist us in assessing their EEO programs and tailor strategies and solutions to correct identified problems. Finally, we will provide customer specific training to enhance EEO skills and competencies of an agency's workforce.

4. Education, Technical Assistance and Training Revolving Fund

In 1992, Congress passed the EEOC Education, Technical Assistance and Training Revolving Fund Act (P.L. 102-411). Under the Act, EEOC develops and delivers comprehensive and specialized external education, technical assistance, and training about the laws we enforce. The Revolving Fund permits us to charge a fee for the costs associated with the delivery of programs that augment agency activities provided to the public free of charge.

The EEOC Education, Technical Assistance and Training Revolving Fund was established as a Public Enterprise Fund with the following authorizing language:

There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States a revolving fund to be known as the "EEOC Education, Technical Assistance and Training Revolving Fund" (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the "Fund") to pay the cost (including administrative and personnel expenses) of providing education, technical assistance, and training relating to the laws administered by the Commission. Monies in the Fund shall be available without fiscal year limitation to the Commission for such purpose.

The Revolving Fund must maintain monies from the unobligated balance at the end of each fiscal year. These funds cover anticipated expenses for a portion of the next fiscal year until new revenues are received beginning in approximately May. This balance and subsequent revenues pay for conference sites, printing, other contractual obligations, and the Revolving Fund staff salaries and benefits. Also, funds are needed to develop new products and enhance existing products and services.

During fiscal year 2003, we conducted 405 fee-based training events under the auspices of the Revolving Fund. These events were attended by more than 20,000 people. Our Technical Assistance Program Seminars (TAPS) teach individuals and representatives about the principles of and the different responsibilities under EEO law. The TAPS are usually one day in length, held throughout the country, and attended by both private and federal sector employers. In fiscal year 2005, we will conduct 50 TAPS events and overall approximately 425 events sponsored by the Revolving Fund.

C. Performance Measures for Strategic Objective 2–Inclusive Workplace

Measures for Proactive Prevention
  2004
(Proposed)
2005
(Proposed)
2.1.1. By FY 2009, [TBD]%* of private and federal sector employer representatives, who participate in a major outreach initiative or training and technical assistance programs, indicate an improvement in an employment policy, practice, or procedure as a result of their participation.
Target Design survey methodology, conduct survey(s), establish baseline level for improvementsSet target values for FY2005-2009 [FY2005 target value set in FY2004 will be inserted]
Results - -
2.1.2. By FY 2009, increase to 50 percent the percentage of federal agencies that successfully implement the model EEO program attributes described in EEOC guidance.
Target Issue guidance on attributes of a Model EEO Program, design measurement index Use Model EEO Program and index to establish baselineSet target values for FY2005-2009Partner with agencies to achieve target value for FY2005
Results - -
2.1.3. By FY 2009, increase the percent of individuals demonstrating an awareness of their equal employment opportunity rights and responsibilities by [TBD]%*.
Target Design survey methodology, conduct survey(s), establish baseline level for awarenessSet target values for FY2005-2009 [FY2005 target value set in FY2004 will be inserted]
Results - -

*[TBD]=[To Be Determined]

Our measures, supporting the Proactive Prevention element of the EEOC's Five-Point Plan, focus on improving employment policies, practices, and procedures; increasing individual awareness of rights and responsibilities; and encouraging successful implementation of the Model EEO Program in federal agencies. Two of our measures focus on the real world impact of our prevention efforts and signal an enhanced emphasis on using strategies to prevent employment discrimination from occurring in the first place. We will rely mostly on survey results from individuals and employers to track the efficacy of our efforts. We cannot establish any targets for these measures at this time because they are a new way of measuring the results of our outreach and technical assistance programs. As a first step, we will design a survey tool and, during fiscal year 2004, establish baseline data. Once we obtain this baseline data, we will establish annual target values for fiscal year 2005 through fiscal year 2009 and implement strategies to achieve our fiscal year 2005 target.

The goal to successfully implement the attributes of the Model EEO Program in 50 percent of the federal agencies is a new initiative. The model provides a critical avenue for agencies to improve their workplaces and promote equal employment opportunity. We issued Management Directive 715 in August 2003. We will issue operational instructions for its implementation to assist agencies to achieve equality of opportunity in the federal workplace and to design and implement strategic programs that identify and eliminate barriers to equal employment opportunity. By adopting the attributes of the Model EEO Program, agencies will be able to attract, develop, and retain top-quality employees and prevent workplace conflicts from arising in the first instance. Where conflicts do arise, however, agencies with effective EEO and ADR programs will be able to resolve matters at an early stage, particularly at the pre-complaint informal stage, and reduce the number of formal EEO complaints requiring investigation and adjudication. As a result, agencies will be able to shift resources from costlier EEO complaint processing activities to proactive prevention. While the Commission strives to provide clear and effective guidance to agencies, as well as assist agencies in tailoring specific strategies to correct any EEO program deficiencies, it is the ultimate responsibility of each agency head to take all necessary measures to incorporate the principles of equal employment opportunity into the organization's structure and culture. As part of the model, we will develop an EEO program compliance assessment tool covering selected indicators that will help agencies measure their progress towards establishing a Model EEO Program.

D. Summary of Financing for the Revolving Fund

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
EEOC Education, Technical Assistance, and Training Revolving Fund
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
  FY2003
(Actual)
FY2004
(Estimate)
FY2005
(Estimate)
Total Obligations 4,057 4,249 4,235
Financing:
Offsetting collections from:
Federal Funds 467 1,320 1,452
Non-Federal sources 3,005 2,380 2,499
Recoveries 236 157 157
Unobligated balance, start of year 3,392 3,043 2,651
Unobligated balance, end of year 3,043 2,651 2,524
Net Budget Authority 7,100 6,900 6,759

E. Object Class Schedule–Strategic Objective 2: Inclusive Workplace

Requirements by Object Class
(Dollars in thousands*)
OBLIGATIONS BY OBJECT CLASS ($000) FY 2003
Actual
FY 2004
Estimate
FY 2005
Request
Personnel Compensation
11.1 Full-time Permanent (FTP) 17,010 27,245 28,911
11.3 Other than FTP 317 491 502
11.5 Other Personnel Compensation 106 120 215
Total Personnel Compensation 17,433 27,856 29,628
12.1 Civilian Personnel Benefits 4,033 6,850 7,473
       
13.1 Benefits to Former Personnel 14 8 8
Total Compensation and Benefits 21,480 34,714 37,109
       
21.1 Travel of Persons 387 482 740
21.1 Litigation Travel 0 0 0
22.0 Transportation of Things 3 4 4
23.1 Other Rent/Communications 663 991 996
23.2 Rental payments to GSA 2,760 4,292 4,292
24.0 Printing and Reproduction 28 41 42
25.0 Other Services 1,602 2,148 3,304
25.0 Litigation Support 0 0 0
25.0 State & Local 0 0 0
26.0 Supplies and Materials 270 310 315
31.0 Equipment 574 861 861
41.0 State & Local 0 0 0
Total Other Objects 6,287 9,129 10,554
       
Agency Total11 27,767 43,843 47,663

*may not add due to rounding

F.Object Class Schedule–EEOC Education, Technical Assistance, and Training Revolving Fund

Requirements by Object Class
(Dollar amounts in thousands*)
OBJECT CLASS Fiscal Year 2003
Actual
Fiscal Year 2004
Estimate
Fiscal Year 2005
Estimate
11.1 Personnel Compensation 1,523 1,266 1,329
12.1 Civilian Personnel Benefits 424 353 371
21.0 Travel and Transportation of Persons 193 290 320
22.0 Transportation of Things 0 0 0
23.1 Other Rent/Communications 220 400 410
24.0 Printing and Reproduction 284 515 500
25.0 Other Services 1,191 1,200 1,100
26.0 Supplies and Materials 190 175 185
31.0 Equipment 32 50 20
       
TOTAL OBLIGATIONS 4,057 4,249 4,235
       
Revolving Fund Reimbursement to Salaries & Expenses Account 2,500 2,200 2,200

*may not add due to rounding

V. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 3 – ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Establish an organizational infrastructure that will set and implement the highest quality standards for equal opportunity, customer service, internal efficiency, and fiscal responsibility

 

OUR MANAGEMENT VISION

Become the world's preeminent civil rights employment law agency and serve as the standard bearer for excellence in outreach, enforcement, and professionalism.

OUR CORE VALUES

Excellence
in our service to the public through professionalism, diligence, and dedication

Empowerment
of our employees through development, recognition, respect, access, and inclusion

Ownership
of our performance through results, accountability, and quality work

Commitment
to our mission through integrity, leadership, and team work

A.Introduction

Strategic Objective 3, Organizational Excellence, embodies the final element of the Five-Point Plan, EEOC as a Model Workplace. Under this objective, we seek to ensure that the principles and standards we promote to employers are readily apparent in our own operations. We will achieve this goal through professional and leadership development, performance management programs, enabling technologies, and establishing a flexible and adaptable work environment conducive to teamwork. To be a model workplace, we will build programs and practices worthy of emulation.

The President's Management Agenda (PMA) provides the roadmap for this strategic objective. The PMA addresses important enhancements to internal agency operations and the agency's interaction with the public.

B.Highlighted Resource Areas for Strategic Objective 3

The agency's resources are allocated between Strategic Objective1 and Strategic Objective 2 to identify the full cost of conducting our front-line programs, including all of the elements of our operations supporting those programs. There are specific areas important to highlight for some areas or programs that illuminate the agency's commitment in achieving organizational excellence and developing EEOC as a model workplace. Table 10, Highlighted Resource Areas in Organizational Excellence, summarizes specific areas that total almost $24 million of our fiscal year 2005 performance budget, which contribute to our two mission-related objectives: Justice and Opportunity and Inclusive Workplace.

TABLE 10: Highlighted Resource Areas in Organizational Excellence
(Dollar amounts in thousands*)
  FY 2003
(Actual)
FY 2004
(Estimate)
FY 2005
(Request)
Change
from FY 04
Technology $17,264 $16,791 $18,772 $1,981
Workforce Repositioning
(including a National Contact Center)
$0 $1,979 $5,000 $3,021
Total $17,264 $18,770 $23,772 $5,002

* may not add due to rounding

Technology

Our technology request totals $18.8 million to improve the agency's efficiency and increase public access to our services and is allocated between Strategic Objectives 1 and 2.

Updated technology is critical to streamline our work processes, especially in light of organizational changes that will occur as we reposition ourselves to make more effective use of our resources. Our Five-Year Information Technology (IT) Strategic Plan outlines an ambitious agenda to continue to improve our business processes, program efficiencies, and customer service.

Our IT plans will give to our employees standardized, state-of-the-art desktop tools to increase their productivity; maintain a sound telecommunications infrastructure to facilitate electronic communication, information sharing and collaboration between our offices; leverage the Internet and information on the Internet to facilitate research and promote information exchange with our external customers; develop integrated information systems to manage our corporate information; implement electronic government initiatives (e-gov) to improve work efficiencies and customer service; and safeguard our agency's information resources to ensure the reliability, availability, and integrity of our data.

The additional technology funds requested for fiscal year 2005 will support the implementation and continuation of several vital agency technology initiatives. We need to expand our IT infrastructure to support the communication and storage requirements of our new document management system. The document management system is a core component of our e-government plans because it serves as the foundation for converting paper records into electronic files to process, store, secure, and retrieve on-line. In addition, the document management system will greatly improve the protection of our mission critical information. As our paper records are converted to an electronic format, critical information can be easily backed-up, stored off-site and recovered in the event of a disaster.

Additional funds will enable us to obtain the technology required to support our process-streamlining initiatives and infrastructure expansion, secure remote access to our internal data systems; and continue the migration to the Microsoft Office Suite.

These additional funds for technology programs build on the significant achievements we have made in the past few years. We have completed several major information technology e-government projects that automated internal processes, reduced paperwork burden, integrated data, and allowed us to work more efficiently within our existing resources. We deployed a secure, web-based application which enabled approximately 45,000 businesses to electronically submit their annual Employer Information Report (EEO-1) to the EEOC. We implemented another secure, web-based system which enabled all federal agencies to electronically submit annual federal equal employment opportunity statistics to EEOC. We implemented a new integrated information system which consolidated our charge intake, investigation, mediation, litigation, hearings, and outreach data into a single shared information system for real-time access; deployed new administrative systems to automate and integrate the functions and data associated with financial and human resources management; and implemented a new correspondence tracking system to electronically manage controlled correspondence and pilot document management technology.

In fiscal years 2004 and 2005, we will expand upon these e-government accomplishments by implementing a web-based tool to assist the public in determining if their employment discrimination complaint falls within EEOC's jurisdiction and to provide them with the option of securely transmitting their allegations and other information to the EEOC electronically. This expansion will complement our plans to upgrade our IT infrastructure to support electronic document management, automated workflow, and records management.

Workforce Repositioning

In February 2003, we received the National Academy of Public Administration's (NAPA) report containing an assessment of our structure and workforce issues. Concurrent with the NAPA study, the agency's Inspector General (IG) completed an assessment of field telecommuting options and the feasibility of substantially expanding the program to reduce overhead costs - predominantly rent. The recommendations from the NAPA and IG studies, input from EEOC employees and stakeholders, and an update to our 6-year Strategic Plan will help guide our repositioning initiative.

Our fiscal year 2004 Enacted level included funds for our repositioning initiatives; which includes the anticipated resources needed to implement management decisions resulting from the NAPA and IG studies and employee and stakeholder input. These resources will support staffing adjustments; office adjustments, especially as we expand our telecommuting workforce; and information technology improvements to support staffing and office space changes.

Throughout fiscal year 2003, the possibility of creating a National Contact Center was examined in order to solve concerns throughout the agency. The EEOC receives more than one million telephone contacts each year: 61 percent of which are requests for general information or potential charge inquiries. Various office management systems are used to handle these calls, as well as customer contacts made through walk-ins and mail. In many offices, calls from the public have been received and processed in the same way for more than 30 years using a variety of different types of systems. Moreover, there is no uniform approach to answering calls that guarantees promptness, accuracy, and courtesy.

An EEOC Work Group was convened in February 2003 to study the feasibility of implementing a cost-effective customer service contact center to provide optimum service and quality information to the public. The Work Group's recommendations were approved by the Commission and the acquisition process has been initiated.

The NAPA report and subsequent internal analyses have documented changing demographics and employment center shifts that require a re-examination of our office locations, staffing, skill mix, and office productivity. The preliminary results suggest imbalances between the agency's workload and the location and the mix of resources needed. We are exploring many options and will use the resources requested for fiscal year 2005 to implement the most prudent and efficient solutions.

In December 2002, the agency announced a freeze on long-term office lease rollovers. In January 2003, we announced a goal to save 35 percent of rental costs ($8 million) over a five-year period. We have achieved rent savings under the revised guidelines by closing a warehouse and relocating one office to new space. We are also relocating the Washington Field Office into the Headquarters building in late fiscal year 2004 to save additional rent costs.

Like other federal agencies, we are faced with a potential wave of retirements in the senior- and middle-level leadership and supervisory ranks beginning in fiscal year 2005. We need to identify, develop, train, and reward new managers. In addition, we must replace employees we lose through transfers and retirements with new hires. This cadre of new employees require intensive training to become good investigators, mediators, and trial attorneys. Resources are requested for these programs as well as rewards and promotions aimed at recognizing exemplary performance and reducing employee turnover.

C. Performance Measures for Strategic Objective 3 – Organizational Excellence

Measures for EEOC as a Model Workplace
  2004
(Proposed)
2005
(Proposed)
3.1.1. By FY 2009, customers rate their confidence in EEOC's services at [TBD]%* or higher.
Target Design survey methodology, conduct survey(s), establish baseline of confidence

Set target values for FY2005-2009
[FY2005 target value set in FY2004 will be inserted]
Results - -
3.1.2. By FY 2009, EEOC will meet or exceed the Office of Personnel Management's standards demonstrating success in managing and developing human capital.
Target Develop and begin implementation of comprehensive human capital strategy
Results --
3.1.3. By FY 2009, EEOC employees will rate their satisfaction in the area of human capital management at or above the overall average rating of all federal employees collected by the Office of Personnel Management in its Government-wide Survey.
Target Survey employees and evaluate results compared to OPM survey Adopt and monitor action plans to improve survey results
Results - -
3.1.4. EEOC will receive an "unqualified" financial audit opinion each year from FY 2004 – FY 2009.
Target "unqualified" financial audit opinion received "unqualified" financial audit opinion received
Results - -
3.1.5. By 2006, successfully implement the federal sector Model EEO program.
Target Develop action plan and self assessment tool for implementing federal sector Model EEO Program attributes. Meet or exceed 50% of identified attributes. Meet all identified attributes.
Results - -
3.1.6. By 2009, reduce the average time to process internal EEO complaints by at least 40%.
Target at least 10% at least 20%
Results - -
3.1.7. The percentage of EEOC employees reporting a willingness to participate again in EEOC's internal EEO/conflict resolution mediation program, RESOLVE, will be 80 percent by FY 2009.
Target 30% 40%
Results - -
3.1.8. By FY 2009, EEOC will maintain in electronic format 95 percent of the key documents necessary in active charge/case-related enforcement/litigation files.
Target Build the IT infrastructure required to support document management and initiate pilots with Headquarters and Field Offices.
Results --

*[TBD]=[To Be Determined]

All of our measures are intended to carry out the PMA and further the agency's goals by assessing customer confidence in our services, achieving high standards in the management of our employees, demonstrating sound financial practices, and using technology to maintain important documents.

Customers must be confident that we can provide the services they expect. With our first measure, we will assess our staff professionalism, agency operations, and aspects of service delivery that impact on individuals and employers who use our services. With this type of new information, we will be able to identify ways to streamline and continuously improve our operations and our service delivery to achieve excellence in customer service.

Our success in providing quality service directly depends on our employees. Effective management of people is the key for achieving our other goals. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has developed a scorecard to help agencies evaluate their status and make progress in implementing a successful approach for managing and developing human capital. For one of our measures, we will meet or exceed all elements of OPM's scorecard and demonstrate our success in human capital management. In fiscal year 2004, we will begin a comprehensive approach to improve in the areas of human capital management so that by the end of fiscal year 2005 we will have addressed any unacceptable indicators. In subsequent years, we will proceed to align our workforce and establish reward and accountability systems to achieve acceptable standards. Finally, we expect to achieve the fully successful standard when we implement all of our human capital components by fiscal years 2008 – 2009.

Another measure ties directly to OPM's survey of the government workforce. By 2009, we expect our employees to rate the agency above the government-wide ratings on the various components in the survey. Some of the areas of the employee survey include employee perceptions of the alignment of the agency's work with its mission, the quality of the agency's leadership, expectations about job performance and commitment to excellence, and how well the agency encourages employees to maintain and enhance professional and leadership skills. The last federal Human Capital Survey was administered by OPM to large agencies in fiscal year 2002. It indicated that more than 80 percent of federal employees believed that they do important work and are accountable for results; fewer than half believed that they received adequate recognition or that awards were tied to their performance, and fewer than half held their leaders in high regard.

OPM has concluded that where less than half of the workforce provides positive endorsement on these types of questions obstacles likely exist for an agency to be able to effectively serve customers, accomplish an agency's mission, or make full use of the agency's human capital. Our surveys will help us meet our measure by identifying any problems and pointing the way towards factors that will help us correct them.

Management of financial resources is another important component of the PMA. The agency is now required to produce an annual financial statement that is independently audited. When we receive an "unqualified" opinion from the auditor, we can be sure that we are meeting applicable accounting standards. In fiscal year 2003, we conducted the first-ever financial audit of the agency in preparation for implementing our measure in fiscal year 2004 to receive an "unqualified" audit opinion for each of the next six years. This is an important objective for our agency, because it is critical that we demonstrate that we are diligently managing our financial resources.

We have identified the key attributes of a Model EEO Program in the federal sector and, as described in measure 2.1.2. on page 49, we expect to have 50 percent of all federal agencies successfully implementing the model by the end of fiscal year 2009. Because EEOC is charged with enforcing the nation's civil rights laws to protect individuals from employment discrimination, EEOC as a model workplace means that our own internal workplace policies and practices serve as a prototype for other federal agencies. Consequently, we intend to reinforce that EEO is an integral part of our strategic mission; be proactive in assessing barriers to equal opportunity; and maintain an effective, efficient, fair, and impartial complaint resolution process. During fiscal year 2004, we will identify strategies and develop a plan of action to ensure that our EEO program meets or exceeds the standards established for a federal sector model EEO Program. We will also begin to implement the Model and successfully meet the identified benchmarks in at least 50 percent of the areas in FY 2004. For fiscal year 2005, we aim to meet all benchmarks.

Implementing the model will enhance our EEO program in many ways. One essential element of a model program is proficient resolution. Our private sector program and the other parts of our federal sector program have measures to assess the timeliness of their work. Similarly, it is critical to ensure that all internal complaints are resolved in an expeditious manner. Our measure requires us to take dramatic steps to decrease the overall amount of time we take to process internal EEO complaints by improving the management of our cases in the investigative phase. Using fiscal year 2003 as a benchmark, we will reduce the average time to process a formal complaint by at least 10 percent in fiscal year 2004 and 20 percent in fiscal year 2005.

As with our efforts to promote and expand mediation and other ADR approaches, it would be best if we could resolve any dispute raised at EEOC as early as possible and eliminate any prolonged conflict that can have a negative impact on our work environment. The EEOC recently implemented a dispute resolution program to improve the workplace and be a model employer in the federal sector. A model workplace seeks to improve the organizational efficiency of the agency and instill a climate of respect, service, and responsiveness. Our new RESOLVE Program is an internal alternative dispute resolution program that provides a forum to informally resolve a variety of workplace disputes, not just EEO concerns.

The program will use mediation to resolve most of the disputes, because it is a less adversarial approach than other processes. Mediation often leads to more creative solutions, and the parties are more satisfied with the process and the results. Mediation is quicker and less costly than other dispute resolution processes. We expect RESOLVE to help us achieve a more harmonious workplace where employees can focus their energy on the vital mission of the agency. The success of RESOLVE is so important that we want to measure the confidence employees have in participating in the program again. For fiscal year 2004, since it is a new endeavor, we have established a baseline that 30 percent of the employees using the RESOLVE program will be willing to use it again. We expect this percentage to grow each year and have set a target of 40 percent for fiscal year 2005. By fiscal year 2009, we want at least 80 percent of the employees who use the program to be willing to participate in it again.

The Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) and the PMA e-gov initiative require the conversion of paper-based documents to an electronic format so that the management of the documents, such as their storage, retrieval, and archive can be achieved electronically on an enterprise basis. Electronic management and maintenance of our charge and case-related documents will improve our service to customers and enhance internal work efficiencies. Specifically, the conversion of paper documents to electronic files will enable on-line transactions with the public and employers; reduce paperwork processing and burden; improve internal information sharing and dissemination; streamline work processes; and provide disaster recovery for our vital mission records. Our measure focuses on building the technical infrastructure required to support enterprise-wide document management, such as expanding telecommunication bandwidth, acquiring storage devices and software licenses, and preparing for the phased-in, multi-year implementation of an electronic document system. We will convert key documents in our active cases through fiscal year 2009 when we expect to have 95 percent of the documents converted. During fiscal years 2004 and 2005, we will lay the groundwork for achieving these substantial gains towards implementing our final goal.

VI. VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION OF DATA

The EEOC continues to make significant progress in implementing its five-year technology plan, which is critical for ensuring the reliability and integrity of the agency's data. Data accuracy and reliability are necessary for effective planning and resource allocation. The agency's major front-line programs in the private and federal sector require accurate enforcement data and financial and human resources information to assess agency operations and performance results.

Over the past few years, we have designed and implemented several important, new technology-based systems to ensure more accurate and easily verifiable data. A desktop software program provides EEOC investigators and attorneys with a quick and easy way to view employers' EEO-1 reports, which are surveys of private sector companies' employment profiles by race, ethnicity, and sex. The desktop program enables our employees to compare this employer information to other employers in the same industry, to employers within a geographic area, or to profiles in the Census. In addition, a new, secure web-based system allows federal agencies to electronically submit annual EEO statistics to EEOC and improve the quality and timeliness of reporting.

We have implemented several new data systems that enhance our budget and performance integration efforts. A new personnel system was implemented in September 2001 to provide more accurate information on our employees and provide enhanced technological capabilities for utilizing this information. The Federal Personnel/Payroll System (FPPS) is maintained by the Department of Interior's National Business Center. We implemented our new Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) in October 2001. The system is also operated and maintained by the Department of the Interior National Business Center. It has core accounting, budget execution, and project cost accounting modules. This system provides centralized access to a single, integrated, corporate-wide financial database and provides a mechanism for consolidated financial reporting. Two additional modules, procurement and fixed assets/property accounting, were implemented in fiscal year2002. A third module, travel management, was implemented in fiscal year 2003.

Additionally, in fiscal year 2003, we deployed the new Integrated Mission System (IMS) to headquarters and all field offices. The IMS consolidates information related to charge intake, investigation, mediation, litigation, hearings, and outreach into a single database for real-time access and operational reporting.

This data and process integration eliminated duplicate data entry and storage and streamlined functions to achieve data integrity.

Finally, during fiscal year 2002, we drafted our Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility and Integrity of Information Disseminated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The guidelines became effective on October 1, 2002. They describe the EEOC's policy and procedures for reviewing and substantiating the quality of information and data before it is disseminated to the public. They provide an administrative mechanism for individuals to seek and obtain correction of the disseminated information.

Under the guidelines, we will be able to strengthen our verification and validation procedures to improve the quality of the agency's data. The guidelines require us to ensure that the information is protected from unauthorized access or revision. In addition, before releasing the information or data to the public, the guidelines require us to review the information and its usefulness to any intended users. The review will ensure that the public obtains the information they need; ensure that the information is displayed in a way that they can use; ensures that the substance of the information is accurate, reliable and unbiased; and, even where the information is accurate, ensure that it is also presented accurately, clearly, completely, in an unbiased way, and in context so that it can be interpreted properly.

During fiscal year 2003, we completed the directive which will guide the agency's internal process for ensuring that all information maintains quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity before being disseminated outside the agency. We will continue to build on the guidelines throughout fiscal years 2004 and 2005 to ensure the quality, usefulness, objectivity, and integrity of our information and our ability to verify and validate our information and data.

VII. PROGRAM EVALUATION

Program evaluation is an important component of an agency's effort to ensure that a program is operating as intended and is achieving results, and the policies, procedures, and processes are operating effectively and efficiently. A program evaluation is a thorough examination of the identified area using a rigorous methodology and statistical and analytical tools. It uses expertise within and outside the program under review to enhance the analytical perspectives and add credence to the evaluation and recommendations.

At this time, we have scheduled five program evaluations that focus on key aspects of our Strategic Objectives included in our Strategic Plan (see the schedule on page 70). During fiscal year 2004, we will establish procedures for conducting program evaluations and prepare for the assessment of our private sector mediation program. In subsequent years, we will evaluate the procedures we use to prioritize private sector charges and assess our federal sector mediation program.

These evaluations will enable us to make critical adjustments to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of these programs. Also, we will be able to review our measures and refine them, if necessary. We will review the need for other program evaluations, particularly for areas in which we are developing baseline information before identifying performance targets to achieve in the future.

Program Evaluation Title Statement of Parametersof the Program Evaluation Expected FYInitiate and Complete
Private Sector Mediation Program The evaluation will assess EEOC's private sector mediation program by examining how the overall program and different implementation strategies have achieved resolutions, economic savings, enhanced customer service, and work place improvements in areas such as morale, productivity, and motivation. The evaluation will explore the quantification of the economic benefits attained by using EEOC's mediation/ADR program and the benefits of using alternative implementation approaches in the program. FY 2005
Private Sector Charge Process The evaluation will examine and evaluate the quality, timeliness, and other relevant characteristics of the private sector charge process to identify key methods for maintaining high quality investigations, areas to enhance the process, and the efficacy of procedures used. FY 2006
Federal Sector Mediation Programs The evaluation will assess the range of mediation/ADR programs used to resolve federal sector complaints. It will review historical results achieved, techniques employed, customer service attained, and other important criteria to measure the various mediation approaches and compare advantages. FY 2007
Effect of EEOC High Impact Litigation The evaluation will identify specific high impact litigation that occurred and discern how employers reacted. The expectation is that a number of changed policies, practices or procedures can be identified that correlate to EEOC's litigation activity and monetary and other benefits can be estimated. FY 2008
Effect of EEOC's Federal Sector Evaluations and Assistance The evaluation will identify specific activities conducted by the EEOC with federal agencies that result in changed policies, practices, or procedures. It will develop a methodology to estimate the results achieved from those changes. FY 2009

VIII. GENERAL STATEMENT OF LAWS

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was established by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 253, 42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) as amended, (Title VII) and became operational on July 2, 1965. The Commission has five members, no more than three of whom shall be of the same political party. The members are appointed by the President, by and with the consent of the Senate for rotating five-year terms. The President designates one member to serve as Chairman and one member to serve as Vice Chairman. The General Counsel is appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate for a term of four years.

The Commission has been charged with promoting equal opportunity in employment by enforcing the federal civil rights employment laws through administrative and judicial actions, education, and technical assistance. We fulfill our mission through the implementation of a vigorous law enforcement program, complemented by proactive prevention through conducting an outreach program to provide information, guidance, and technical assistance to help prevent discrimination from occurring.

Title VII prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin by public and private employers with 15 or more employees, employment agencies, and labor organizations with 15 or more members. Members of the public file charges alleging employment discrimination with the Commission's 51 field offices. EEOC staff members investigate the charges and issue determinations of "reasonable cause" or "no reasonable cause" to believe the allegations of a charge. If the Commission finds cause, it attempts to resolve the charge through conciliation. EEOC also attempts to settle charges through mediation. Title VII authorizes the Commission to file suit in Federal District Court in order to achieve compliance if it is unable to achieve a remedy through conciliation. If the case involves a state or local government, the Commission will refer it to the Attorney General who may file suit in federal court.

Pursuant to Section 709(c) of Title VII, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission requires the filing of periodic reports by public and private employers and labor organizations providing data on the makeup of their workforces or membership by gender and racial/ethnic categories. The data are used by other federal, state, and local agencies charged with enforcement of equal employment opportunity laws, and in aggregate form by non-government organizations and researchers concerned with equal employment opportunity.

EEOC enforces the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967, and the Equal Pay Act (EPA). The ADEA protects workers age 40 and older from discrimination in hiring, discharge, pay, promotions, fringe benefits, and other aspects of employment by employers having 20 or more employees. The Equal Pay Act prohibits gender-based discrimination in the payment of wages to men and women performing substantially equal work in the same establishment. The Commission receives and investigates charges of discrimination in these areas and makes findings of "violation" or "no violation" and may file suit in Federal District Court if it is unable to achieve voluntary resolution of violations through conciliation.

Section 717 of Title VII, Section 15 of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, bar discrimination by federal agencies on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, and disability. These sections provide the basis for Commission oversight responsibility for the procedures used by federal departments and agencies in processing internal complaints of discrimination. In addition, the Commission has appellate jurisdiction to review final decisions of departments or agencies on discrimination complaints upon the request of the complainant. It is also responsible for ensuring that federal department and agencies maintain programs of equal employment opportunity. Further, under Executive Order 12067, the Commission provides leadership and coordination to all federal department and agencies' programs enforcing federal statutes, executive orders, regulations, and policies which require equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. Coordination is provided to eliminate conflict, competition, duplication, and inconsistency in these programs and to improve their effectiveness. All federal departments and agencies are required to cooperate with and assist the Commission in performing these functions and are required to furnish the Commission with such reports and information as it may require.

On July 26, 1990, the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) became law. The ADA became effective on July 26, 1992, for employers with 25 or more employees and on July 26, 1994, for employers with 15 or more employees. This legislation provides a clear and comprehensive mandate for enforcing the laws prohibiting discrimination in employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. EEOC is responsible for ensuring compliance with Title I of this statute by receiving and investigating charges of disability discrimination. At the conclusion of EEOC's investigation, the agency issues a determination of reasonable cause or dismisses the charge (no cause). If EEOC has found cause and is unable to achieve compliance through conciliation, EEOC may file a lawsuit. If the case involves a state or local government, the Commission will refer it to the Attorney General who may file suit in federal court.

Under the statutes EEOC enforces, the agency, through individual Commissioners or by field directors, may initiate charges based on information suggesting that the law has been violated. If the Commission decides after investigating that reasonable cause exists to believe that a violation has occurred, remedial relief is sought through the process of conciliation or litigation if conciliation efforts fail.

IX. ADDENDUM: INTERIM ADJUSTMENTS TO STRATEGIC PLAN

The agency is making two interim adjustments to its Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2004-2009.

A) Adjustment of the Goal Value for Performance Measure 1.1.1.

For Strategic Objective 1, Justice and Opportunity, we are changing performance measure 1.1.1. on page 16 of the agency's Strategic Plan. This measure supports the Proficient Resolution element of the agency's Five-Point Plan. The measure calls for us to resolve at least 70% of private sector charges within 180 days by FY 2009. This is a key measure of our success in providing timely service to our customers. We are increasing the target value for this measure from 70 percent to 75 percent by fiscal year 2009, a more challenging goal for the agency. The 75% target builds upon our steady success in recent years to reduce the time it takes to resolve charges. We recognize, however, that our goal to resolve 75% of private sector charges within 180 days must be balanced with other factors that contribute to the amount of time it takes to resolve these charges including the need to devote resources to charges that take longer to process because of the type of meritorious or complex claims involved.

The original performance measure read: By FY 2009, ensure that at least 70% of private sector charges will be resolved within 180 days.

The revised performance measure reads: By FY 2009, ensure that at least 75% of private sector charges will be resolved within 180 days.

B. Revised Language

In our Strategic Plan, we describe the means and strategies we will employ to address Strategic Objective #2, Inclusive Workplace, and the three long-term goals for the Five-Point Plan element, Proactive Prevention. We are removing references to the word "scorecard" from the text, because it did not appropriately convey our approach to develop an index to promote, monitor and track improvements in federal agency EEO programs. Our approach is not similar to scorecard mechanisms currently used to evaluate federal agency programs. Removing this word does not alter our initiative, but it will eliminate unnecessary confusion about how we will achieve our results to implement the attributes of the Model EEO Program throughout the federal government.

Text changes in the Strategic Plan

Original text on page 27, with language removed for revised text change: As part of the Model, we will develop a scorecard covering selected indicators that will help agencies measure their progress in establishing the Model EEO Program.

Original text on page 28, with language removed for revised text change: Also, develop a "scorecard" process to promote, monitor and track improvements in managing an agency's EEO program.


1. Includes fiscal year 2003 rescission of $2,007,343 (PL-108-7), and $15,000,000 supplemental (PL-108-11) and fiscal year 2004 rescission of $3,455,610 (PL-108-199).

2. Highlighted resources listed in Strategic Objective 3 are allocated between Strategic Objectives 1 & 2 and included in the Agency Total.

3. Obligations for State & Local were allocated to object class 41.0 for fiscal year 2003 and object class 25.0 for fiscal years 2004 and 2005.

4. Includes fiscal year 2003 rescission of $2,007,343 (PL-108-7), and $15,000,000 supplemental (PL-108-11) and fiscal year 2004 rescission of $3,455,610 (PL-108-199).

5. Includes $1,806,608 of the $2,007,343 fiscal year 2003 rescission (PL-108-7), and $13,200,000 of the $15,000,000 fiscal year 2003 supplemental (PL-108-11) and $2,937,269 of the $3,455,610 fiscal year 2004 rescission (PL-108-199).

6. Totals for all charges do not equal the sum of all statutes because many charge filings allege issues/bases under more than one statute.

7. "Hearing Requests Consolidated After Initial Processing" are cases initially processed by EEOC as individual hearings but subsequently consolidated with other hearings.

8. The target value was revised. For an explanation, see Section IX, page 77.

9. Obligations for State & Local were allocated to object class 41.0 for fiscal year 2003 and object class 25.0 for fiscal years 2004 and 2005.

10. Includes fiscal year 2003 rescission $1,806,608 of the $2,007,343 rescission (PL-108-7), and $13,200,000 of the $15,000,000 supplemental (PL-108-11) and fiscal year 2004 rescission $2,937,269 of the $3,455,610 rescission (PL-108-199)

11. Includes fiscal year 2003 rescission $200,734 of the $2,007,343 rescission (PL-108-7), and $1,800,000 of the $15,000,000 supplemental (PL-108-11) and fiscal year 2004 rescission $518,341 of the $3,456,000 rescission (PL-108-199).


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