MINUTES FOR THE SEPTEMBER 20, 2000 MEETING OF

THE COUNCIL OF FEDERAL EEO AND CIVIL RIGHTS EXECUTIVES

Sponsor: Ms. Delia Johnson, US Department of State

President: Mr. Luther Santiful (US Army, Deputy for Equal Employment Opportunity Policy) opened the meeting at 10:10 am.

All members in attendance identified their agency and introduced themselves.

Agenda topics included:

I. NPR/EEO Federal Sector Task Force – Update

II. Excel 2000 Conference sponsored by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

III. Liability Insurance for Managers/Supervisors

Attendees discussed the recent controversy concerning the EEOC recommendation that names and other personal information identifying the complainant and principal agency witness be available in a database. Council members who serve on the NPR/EEO taskforce said that several publications that cover the federal workplace incorrectly reported that the database was an NPR taskforce recommendation. The database came about because of concerns by a congressional representative that there is no system in place to track complaint data. However, many agencies and individuals believe that having data available on individuals, on unproven allegations could ruin reputations and careers. Additionally, some group members mentioned that various agencies have indicated that they will refuse to comply with EEOC requests for information to enter in the database. Attendees agreed to invite a senior member of the NPR/EEOC data collection taskforce, to the next council meeting, for clarification and further discussion of the NPR/EEOC recommendation. The council plans to issue a recommendation.

A brief discussion on Liability Insurance for Federal Managers ensued. A council member gave a personal account of the benefit of having liability insurance when sued by a complainant while carrying out official duties. A more in depth information briefing is planned for the next meeting

Attendees noted that the Federal Dispute Resolution conference and the Excel 2000 training sessions were held within very short timeframes of each other, which seemed to impact attendance at each. Members speculated that changes in federal sector complaints processing will increase attendance at future EEOC sponsored training. Members agreed that EEOC sponsored training is viewed as far more beneficial since information is coming from the source rather than a third party.

Attendees discussed individual agency initiatives on several recent Executive Orders; EO 131166 on Limited English Proficiency Services, EO 13163 on Employing People with Disabilities, and EO 13162 on the Federal Career Intern Program.

A motion was made and seconded, to move the selection of a nominating committee for the 2001 Officers, to the October meeting.