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Civil Rights Directorate


March 7, 2024

Taking Aim at a Dream

In the stillness of an indoor archery range, bows are drawn and eyes are fixed, waiting for one pivotal moment: the release of an arrow. The sharp zing as it sails comes only after the long-drawn inhale of a taut bowstring, poised to find its mark on a target face 18 meters away. The stakes are palpable, as is the power in one competitor’s stance

Jan. 25, 2024

Embark on an Artistic Voyage With the 2024 Student Art Contest

The Annual Student Art Contest is back and now accepting submissions for 2024! Students in grades K-12 across the Americas (North, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean) are invited to embark on this voyage of artistic inspiration and creation. The Coast Guard workforce is encouraged to spread the word about the contest among their eligible

Sept. 28, 2023

Disability Rights Timeline

The Coast Guard recognizes National Disability Employment Awareness (NDEAM) Month each October. This period serves as a reminder of the importance of creating inclusive work environments where all employees are valued and have equal opportunities to succeed.Throughout history, the pursuit of equity and access for individuals with disabilities has

Feb. 28, 2023

Solve Disagreements Early with Alternative Dispute Resolution

Aggrieved individuals can use the Coast Guard’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process as an avenue for resolving Equal Employment Opportunity/Equal Opportunity (EEO/EO) conflicts quickly and efficiently. In ADR, a trained, third-party neutral assists disputing parties in reaching a mutual settlement by using various informal techniques such

Feb. 21, 2023

Know Your Retaliation Protections

Federal laws and policies prohibit agencies and organizations from punishing employees and job applicants for reporting or participating in processes that address employment discrimination and harassment. This means that Coast Guard military members, civilians, and applicants for employment have legal and policy protections against retaliation if

Feb. 14, 2023

Managers and supervisors: Here are the do's and don'ts of retaliation

For management officials, receiving an Equal Employment Opportunity/Equal Opportunity (EEO/EO) complaint can be frustrating and may create tension within the workplace that ultimately affects mission readiness. Supervisors may want to confront the person who filed the complaint or take some sort of action against them. Don’t do it! Any actions

Feb. 7, 2023

Chilling Effect and its Retaliation Impacts

“Any staff member who participates in the upcoming EEO investigation better be careful of the testimony you provide!” “Are you really going to play the race card?”“If any of the statements you provided in your complaint are not true, your employment here will be terminated.”“You should speak with me first before you think about filing a

Jan. 31, 2023

Coast Guard Supervisors: Here are Best Practices for Preventing Retaliation

Have you heard of someone accused of workplace discrimination that led to a civil rights complaint? What if the accused was a supervisor who believed they were innocent and confronted the employee with explaining their innocence or questioning why the employee filed a complaint in the first place? That same supervisor may even be tempted to punish

Jan. 24, 2023

How to Spot and Report Retaliation

As the Civil Rights Directorate’s Anti-Retaliation Campaign continues, today’s topic is spotting and reporting retaliation. Workplace retaliation can take many forms and it is important for employees to understand how to identify retaliation and the ways to report it. But how does one determine if an action is retaliatory?Elements of

Jan. 17, 2023

Understanding Retaliation

Beginning today, the Civil Rights Directorate kicks off an Anti-Retaliation Campaign that will educate and inform the Coast Guard workforce about workplace retaliation. Stay tuned to the Civil Rights Directorate website from January 17th to March 1st for content covering topics like what employees’ rights and responsibilities are, how to remedy a


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