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Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA)

Permanent Workforce: 271,682 Temporary Workforce: 25,552 Total Workforce: 297,234

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 271,682 40.22% 59.78% 6.82% 61.19% 23.92% 6.15% 0.18% 1.12% 0.61% 1.47%
Major Occupations:
NURSE 51,500 15.44% 84.56% 5.91% 66.39% 15.69% 10.47% 0.15% 1.03% 0.37% 0.50%
MEDICAL OFFICER 20,323 66.63% 33.37% 6.44% 64.09% 4.55% 22.98% 0.16% 1.46% 0.33% 0.48%
PRACTICAL NURSE 12,763 16.14% 83.86% 6.95% 56.41% 29.12% 5.37% 0.24% 1.25% 0.67% 0.67%
GS-14 and GS-15* 17,476 64.23% 35.77% 5.73% 69.01% 7.48% 16.23% 0.13% 1.02% 0.38% 0.66%
Senior Pay Level* 5,617 66.74% 33.26% 4.45% 76.39% 3.49% 14.03% 0.14% 1.28% 0.21% 0.32%
SES 251 68.53% 31.47% 3.59% 83.67% 9.16% 1.59% 0.40% 1.20% 0.40% 2.39%
First-Level Officials/ Mgrs 7,962 45.84% 54.16% 6.62% 66.40% 22.10% 3.05% 0.18% 1.17% 0.51% 1.04%
Mid-Level Officials/ Mgrs 6,227 52.80% 47.20% 5.06% 77.34% 13.17% 3.20% 0.08% 0.63% 0.53% 1.08%
Senior-Level Officials/ Mgrs 3,877 71.06% 28.94% 5.55% 76.81% 5.80% 11.04% 0.15% 0.44% 0.21% 0.59%

*Does not include pay-banded employees

Targeted Disabilities

As of September 30, 2009, VA employed 4,241 (1.43%) Individuals with Targeted Disabilities (IWTD). In order to have met the federal 2% participation rate goal, 5,945 IWTD were needed. This represents an increase of 256 employees over FY 2008 and an increase of 675 employees since FY 2005. The participation rate for FY 2008 was 1.43% and for FY 2005 was 1.52%. Over the 5-year period VA had a net decrease of 0.09% in employees with targeted disabilities.

EEO Complaint Processing

I. Counseling

VA timely processed 94.8% of the 4,293 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) Race (Black/African American). Of the 2,221 complaints filed at VA, 533 contained allegations of race (Black/African American) discrimination, 104 contained allegations of race (White) discrimination, 35 contained allegations of race (Asian) discrimination, 17 contained allegations of race (American Indian/Alaska Native) discrimination, 59 contained allegations of color discrimination and 517 contained allegations of disability discrimination.

III. Complaint Processing Times

Of the 1,575 completed investigations, 69.5% were timely. VA's average time for completing an investigation was 179 days. Of the agencies completing 25 or more investigations, the Tennessee Valley Authority had the lowest average of 100 days.

VA's average processing time for all complaint closures decreased from 366 days in FY 2008 to 311 days in FY 2009. The government-wide average was 344 days.

IV. Costs

VA agreed to pay $638,117 for 490 pre-complaint settlements, of which 28 were monetary settlements averaging $22,790. VA expended a total of $5,161,891 for 1,575 complaint investigations, for an average expenditure of $3,277.

VA agreed to pay a total of $5,526,169 plus other benefits for 450 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 $12,280.

Outcome of Counselings Completed in FY 2009
Pre-Complaint Counseling Outcomes Completed by EEO Counselor Completed Using ADR All Completed Counselings
# % # % # %
Pre-Complaint Counselings: 2,184 2,113 4,297
Settlements 41 1.9% 449 21.3% 490 11.4%
Withdrawals or No Complaints Filed 1,033 47.3% 578 27.4% 1,611 37.5%
Complaints Filed* 2,106 49%
Decision to File Complaint Pending at End of Fiscal Year 90 2.1%

*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 4,297 1,822
Total Number Offered ADR 3,524 202
ADR Offer Rate* 82% 11.1%
ADR Participation Rate* 49.2% 8.3%
Total ADR Settlements 449 77
Total ADR Settlements Amount $208,117.10 $124,785.85

* 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) 4,293 4,069 94.8%
All Investigations 1,575 1,095 69.5% 185 179 -3.2%
All Complaint Closures 1,822 366 311 -15%
Merit Decisions (no AJ) 486 208 42.8% 383 357 -6.8%
Dismissal Decisions (no AJ) 317 78 57 -26.9%

*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 2,221
Total Closures 1,822
Settlements 436 23.9%
Withdrawals 262 14.4%
Total Final Agency Actions 1,124 61.7% 803 71.4% 309 27.5% 12 1.1%
Dismissals 332 29.5% 317 95.5% 11 3.3% 4 1.2%
Merit Decisions 792 70.5% 486 61.4% 298 37.6% 8 1%
Finding Discrimination 22 2.8% 6 27.3% 8 36.4% 8 36.4%
Finding No Discrimination 770 97.2% 480 62.3% 290 37.7% 0 0%

1 Employees classified as supervisors and managers who are at the GS-12 level or below are identified as First-Level Officials and Managers; those at the GS-13 or GS-14 level are identified as Mid-Level Officials and Managers; and those at the GS-15 or in the Senior Executive Service are identified as Senior-Level Officials and Managers. If the CPDF was unable to determine the grade level of particular managers, they are identified as Unclassified Managers.

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