OFFICE OF WORKFORCE EQUALITY

Telephone: (916) 653-6952
TDD: (916) 653-6934
E-mail: weo@water.ca.gov
Fax: (916) 654-5664

Mailing Address:
1416 Ninth Street, Room 630
Sacramento, CA 95814

Mission: To ensure the Department's employees and prospective employees are informed about, have access to, and conduct themselves in accordance with the rights and protections afforded by the Equal Employment Opportunity laws and policies, and that discrimination complaints are resolved in a fair and equitable manner.

The major responsibilities of the Office of Workforce Equality are to:

• Develop and administer policies and procedures to ensure departmental compliance with the requirements of the Civil Rights Act and equal employment opportunity.
  
• Administer the discrimination complaint policies and procedures by providing employees with a method for expressing allegations of discrimination based on job-related issues involving race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, sex (including sexual harassment), political affiliation, sexual orientation, medical condition, and retaliation.
  
• Consult and work closely with Division/District/Office Chiefs, Equal Employment Opportunity Counselors, and line managers to assist them in meeting the equal employment opportunity objectives of the Department.
  
• Plan, organize and administer the Disability Program consistent with the needs of the Department which include the Department maintaining compliance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and California Fair Employment and Housing Act.
  
• Administer the Exit Interview Program which tracks the movement of employees from and within the Department.
  
• Assist the Department in the administration of the Mentor Program.
  
• Work with Divisions/Districts/Offices in addressing EEO issues, including the Department's Personnel Office with particular emphasis to new hires including student hires, job restructuring, and development of entrance classes; the Training Office in providing equal employment opportunity and diversity training for all employees; the Division of Operations and Maintenance as liaison with the apprenticeship program; and the Labor Relations Office to coordinate appropriate handling of grievances that interface with discrimination complaints.