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Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Permanent Workforce: 84,982 Temporary Workforce: 21,316 Total Workforce: 106,298

Workforce Composition

Total # Men Women Hispanic or Latino White Black or African American Asian Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander American Indian / Alaska Native Two or More Races Individuals with Targeted Disabilities
Permanent Workforce 84,982 56.12% 43.88% 6.24% 77.66% 10.84% 2.78% 0.10% 2.26% 0.12% 0.95%
Major Occupations:
FORESTRY TECHNICIAN 16,777 80.75% 19.25% 6.41% 87.55% 1.32% 0.94% 0.08% 3.40% 0.31% 0.23%
BIO. SCIENCE TECHNICIAN 5,840 57.26% 42.74% 4.55% 85.05% 3.70% 3.99% 0.77% 1.34% 0.63% 0.60%
GEN NATL RESOURCES MGT & BIO SC 5,153 64.45% 35.55% 6.79% 82.28% 3.69% 5.08% 0.14% 1.92% 0.10% 0.68%
GS-14 and GS-15* 5,999 67.26% 32.74% 4.10% 79.20% 10.24% 5.38% 0.02% 1.05% 0.02% 0.58%
Sr. Pay Level* 453 73.95% 26.05% 4.42% 81.24% 9.49% 2.87% 0.22% 1.55% 0.22% 0.66%
SES 342 69.88% 30.12% 4.09% 79.82% 11.11% 2.63% 0.00% 2.05% 0.29% 0.58%
First-Level Officials/ Mgrs 5,088 75.96% 24.04% 7.33% 82.88% 4.64% 1.55% 0.08% 3.46% 0.06% 0.33%
Mid-Level Officials/ Mgrs 4,195 64.10% 35.90% 5.48% 80.91% 9.54% 2.26% 0.05% 1.74% 0.02% 0.55%
Senior-Level Officials/ Mgrs 1,607 72.18% 27.82% 4.36% 80.15% 10.70% 3.05% 0.06% 1.62% 0.06% 0.50%

*Does not include pay-banded employees

Targeted Disabilities

As of September 30, 2009, USDA employed 883 (0.83%) Individuals with Targeted Disabilities (IWTD). In order to have met the federal 2% participation rate goal, 2,126 IWTD were needed. This represents a decrease of 10 employees from FY 2008 and a decrease of 117 employees since FY 2005. The participation rate for FY 2008 was 0.85% and for FY 2005 was 0.91%. Over the 5-year period USDA had a net decrease of 0.08% in employees with targeted disabilities.

EEO Complaint Processing

I. Counseling

USDA timely processed 86.6% of the 1,031 pre-complaint counselings (without remands) completed in FY 2009.

II. Bases of Complaints Filed

The bases of alleged discrimination most often raised were: (1) Reprisal; (2) Age; and (3) Sex (Female). Of the 492 complaints filed at USDA, 117 contained allegations of race (Black/African American) discrimination, 31 contained allegations of race (White) discrimination, 12 contained allegations of race (Asian) discrimination, 7 contained allegations of race (American Indian/Alaska Native) discrimination, 43 contained allegations of color discrimination and 80 contained allegations of disability discrimination.

III. Complaint Processing Times

Of the 344 completed investigations, 52.3% were timely. USDA's average time for completing an investigation was 244 days. Of the agencies completing 25 or more investigations, the Tennessee Valley Authority had the lowest average of 100 days.

USDA's average processing time for all complaint closures decreased from 802 days in FY 2008 to 620 days in FY 2009. The government-wide average was 344 days.

IV. Costs

USDA agreed to pay $423,899 for 122 pre-complaint settlements, of which 39 were monetary settlements averaging $10,869. USDA expended a total of $1,225,710 for 344 complaint investigations, for an average expenditure of $3,563.

USDA agreed to pay a total of $5,021,706 plus other benefits for 220 complaint closures through settlement agreements, final agency decisions, and final agency orders fully implementing AJ decisions. For complaint closures with monetary benefits, the average award was $22,826.

Outcome of Counselings Completed in FY 2009
Pre-Complaint Counseling Outcomes Completed by EEO Counselor Completed Using ADR All Completed Counselings
# % # % # %
Pre-Complaint Counselings: 782 250 1,032
Settlements 63 8.1% 59 23.6% 122 11.8%
Withdrawals or No Complaints Filed 316 40.4% 84 33.6% 400 38.8%
Complaints Filed* 479 46.4%
Decision to File Complaint Pending at End of Fiscal Year 31 3%

*Includes only complaints filed in FY 2009 where counseling was also completed during FY 2009.

Agency Use of ADR for EEO Dispute Resolution in FY 2009
Counseling Complaint
Completed/Ended Counselings/Complaint Closures 1,032 744
Total Number Offered ADR 931 144
ADR Offer Rate* 90.2% 19.4%
ADR Participation Rate* 24.2% 8.2%
Total ADR Settlements 59 19
Total ADR Settlements Amount $116,124.82 $170,851.00

* EEOC revised the formula for calculating the ADR offer and participation rates in FY 2006.

Timeliness in FY 2009
Total # # Timely % Timely FY 2008 APD* FY 2009 APD % Change
All Pre-Complaint Counselings (minus remands) 1,031 893 86.6%
All Investigations 344 180 52.3% 213 244 14.6%
All Complaint Closures 744 802 620 -22.7%
Merit Decisions (no AJ) 352 19 5.4% 1,159 695 -40%
Dismissal Decisions (no AJ) 33 283 200 -29.3%

*APD = Average Processing Days

Outcomes of Complaints in FY 2009
Complaint Closures Final Agency Decision (no AJ Decision) Final Order (AJ Decision Fully Implemented) Final Order (AJ Decision Not Fully Implemented)
# % # % # % # %
Total Complaints Filed 492
Total Closures 744
Settlements 206 27.7%
Withdrawals 34 4.6%
Total Final Agency Actions 504 67.7% 385 76.4% 119 23.6% 0 0%
Dismissals 38 7.5% 33 86.8% 5 13.2% 0 0%
Merit Decisions 466 92.5% 352 75.5% 114 24.5% 0 0%
Finding Discrimination 14 3% 11 78.6% 3 21.4% 0 0%
Finding No Discrimination 452 97% 341 75.4% 111 24.6% 0 0%