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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20250
DEPARTMENTAL REGULATION
Number:
4300-010
SUBJECT:
Civil Rights Accountability Policy and Procedures
DATE:
January 18, 2006
OPI:
Office of Civil Rights and Office of
Human Capital Management
1 PURPOSE
This Departmental Regulation (DR) establishes the civil rights accountability policy and
procedures for ensuring that appropriate disciplinary or corrective actions are taken when
discrimination, retaliation, civil rights violations, or related misconduct occurs. This DR is
intended to strengthen existing civil rights policies within the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) and encourage agencies to work to resolve complaints at the earliest possible
opportunity.
2 POLICY
It is the policy of USDA to treat customers and employees fairly and equitably, with dignity and
respect, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs,
sexual orientation, marital or familial status, parental status and protected genetic information, or
because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from public assistance. Retaliation
against customers or employees for opposition to discrimination of any kind in contravention of
this policy will not be tolerated.
Agency officials, managers, supervisors and other employees shall be held accountable for
discrimination, retaliation, civil rights violations, or related misconduct. Discrimination,
retaliation, civil rights violations, or related misconduct will be evaluated, in accordance with this
policy and with the governing Federal and USDA regulations regarding discipline and adverse
actions, by agency human resources (HR) offices, in conjunction with the Office of Human
Capital Management (OHCM), to determine if disciplinary or other corrective action is
warranted.
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In order to further the goal of encoura