Summary: The Federal Government has developed numerous programs to ensure that equal employment opportunity exists within the federal workforce. Some of the efforts involved in administering the programs included: setting up complaints review systems, revising recruitment programs, implementation of affirmative action planning, reviewing examining procedures, setting guidelines for employee selection procedures, and the establishment of special emphasis programs. Basic to a sound equal employment program is a timely, efficient discrimination complaints processing system which protects employees' rights and, at the same time, protects agencies and supervisory personnel against unsupported allegations of discrimination. Earlier findings showed that processing of formal complaints was seldom completed within the established timeframe. Efforts to improve these processes continue, but corrective action has been limited. Prior GAO reports have also considered the Federal Equal Opportunity Recruitment Program. It was noted at that time that the definition of civilian workforce as used by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission could cause problems by resulting in unrealistic hiring goals. Further, the guidelines issued for employee selection are not easily understood. Because of this, opposition to the guidelines continues to grow, and the benefits are difficult to measure. Special emphasis programs have been established in federal agencies because women and minorities perceived that their needs were not being adequately considered or met in existing equal opportunity programs. These programs hold the promise of being an effective means of advising agency management on the special needs of underrepresented groups.
