Equal Employment Opportunity

The Adjutant General′s Department (AGD) will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability. The department shall not discriminate or retaliate against any individual who exercises his or her rights granted or protected by the federal and state laws, or against any individual who: opposes a discriminatory practice, makes or files a complaint alleging employment discrimination, or testifies, assists or participates in any manner in an investigation, proceeding or hearing.

Retaliation by AGD employees is strictly prohibited. Any agency employee who retaliates against another employee who opposes alleged employment discrimination violates the agency′s policies and procedures and may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.

The Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) program represents the AGD′s commitment and reaffirmation of its Equal Employment Opportunity Policy. The EEO program voluntarily establishes the framework to ensure that all facets of employment - recruitment, selection, assignment, training, promotion, and compensation - are based on job-related factors such as an individual′s education, qualifications, experience, demonstrated abilities, and job performance.

The AGD′s policy of nondiscrimination includes the following:

– AGD will recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability.
– AGD will make employment decisions so as to further the principle of equal employment opportunity.
– AGD will ensure that promotion decisions are in accordance with principles of equal employment opportunity by using only valid nondiscriminatory requirements for promotional opportunities.
   
– AGD will ensure that all personnel actions such as salary level, benefits, transfers, layoffs, return from layoff, and also agency-sponsored training, education, and employee assistance programs will be administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability.
– Overall program responsibility is assigned to the State Human Resources Manager.
– AGD will maintain a reporting and monitoring process to provide a comprehensive analysis of the department′s workforce that meets federal and state guidelines.

It is the intent of the AGD to use every effort to accomplish the objectives of this EEO policy. This policy guide supersedes other policies previously issued and will be reviewed and updated annually.

EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION TRAINING PROGRAM

The Adjutant General's Department will provide training on its EEO Policies and Procedures within 30 days of employment for all employees. In addition, a refresher course will be conducted to ensure that employees are reacquainted with these important concepts at least every two years. A representative of the State Human Resources Office will provide the training that includes at least a discussion of the following:

– Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended in 1972, 1978 and 1991
– Equal Pay Act of 1963
– Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended
– Americans with Disabilities Act
– Texas Commission on Human Rights Act
– Sexual Harassment
– Pregnancy Discrimination Act
– Fair Labors and Standards Act
– Workers′ Compensation Act
– Family Medical Leave Act
– Primary Legal Theories for determining discrimination under EEO Law

Employees who attend the training program will be required to sign documentation verifying the employee′s completion of the training program. The documentation will be maintained in each employee′s personnel file and a database will be maintained to show compliance of this policy.

RETALIATION PROHIBITED

The department shall not discriminate or retaliate against any individual who exercises his or her rights granted or protected by the federal and state laws, or against any individual who:

– opposes a discriminatory practice,
– makes or files a complaint alleging employment discrimination, or
– testifies, assists or participates in any manner in an investigation, proceeding or hearing.

Retaliation by AGD employees is strictly prohibited. Any agency employee who retaliates against another employee who opposes alleged employment discrimination violates the agency′s policies and procedures and may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.