Calling it a "bold new plan," the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has released its strategic plan for fiscal years 2012 through 2016, as required by Congress.
Though a bit late (since the government is already deeply into Fiscal Year 2012), the plan hinges on what it calls "three values": Commitment to Justice, Accountability, and Integrity. The EEOC's official announcement provides this explanation of these values:
Commitment to Justice: Congress entrusted the Commission with the responsibility of enforcing the nation's employment non-discrimination laws. These laws reflect Congress' vision of justice in employment in our nation's workplaces. To honor the trust that has been given us, we must have an unwavering commitment to carrying out that vision of justice.
Accountability: Like all federal agencies, the EEOC is accountable to the public it serves. We must therefore continue to demand excellence in ourselves and have systems in place to hold us accountable for that excellence. To this end, the Commission must ensure that the resources entrusted to us are used in the intended manner, that the EEOC workforce has adequate training and that the agency's processes are consistent and periodically evaluated and updated.
Integrity: The Commission has an obligation to be objective as it investigates charges and adjudicates cases. If we conclude that unlawful discrimination has occurred, we have an obligation to advance the public interest and work to fully remedy the harm caused by discrimination. We also have an obligation to be an impartial adjudicator in federal sector cases. Moreover, every person we serve or interact with in the performance of our work and every member of the EEOC workforce is entitled to be treated with respect, courtesy and professionalism.
In pursuit of these values, the EEOC said it is committed to pursuing three "objectives and outcome goals":
- Combat employment discrimination through strategic law enforcement, with the outcome goals of: 1) have a broad impact on reducing employment discrimination at the national and local levels; and 2) remedy discriminatory practices and secure meaningful relief for victims of discrimination;
- Prevent employment discrimination through education and outreach, with the outcome goals of: 1) members of the public understand and know how to exercise their right to employment free of discrimination; and 2) employers, unions and employment agencies (covered entities) better address and resolve EEO issues, thereby creating more inclusive workplaces; and
- Deliver excellent and consistent service through a skilled and diverse workforce and effective systems, with the outcome goal that all interactions with the public are timely, of high quality, and informative.