The National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) and 14 other gender justice, workers’ rights, and civil rights organizations submitted a comment strongly opposing a Proposed Rule from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that would overhaul its regulations governing the process for federal employees bringing workplace civil rights complaints.

The EEOC is tasked with ensuring that federal agencies provide equal employment opportunity and comply with anti-discrimination laws and regulations, but this Proposed Rule would undermine the EEOC’s ability to safeguard the rights of the millions of workers employed by the federal government. All federal employees deserve a fair, accessible, and independent process for bringing complaints about discrimination and retaliation. Access to such a process is particularly important for communities of workers who experience higher rates of workplace discrimination, including but not limited to women, Black workers and other workers of color, LGBTQI+ workers, and disabled workers. Unfortunately, as outlined in our comments, this Proposed Rule would create confusion and impose procedural hurdles that will make it harder for federal sector employees to enforce their rights and pursue redress when they experience workplace discrimination.