Equal Employment Opportunity

Representation of Minorities and White Women at Fort Lee Army Post, Virginia Gao ID: GGD-90-27 January 17, 1990

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the equal employment opportunity (EEO) program for civilian personnel at Fort Lee, Virginia.

GAO found that: (1) various EEO groups, particularly black men, were underrepresented at Fort Lee, to a greater extent in senior and middle management positions and occupational categories; (2) EEO data showed underrepresentation in almost all upper pay grades for black men, black women, and white women; (3) Fort Lee has undertaken a number of steps since 1987 to improve EEO program management and to increase promotion opportunities for minorities and white women; (4) the Fort Lee EEO plan identified eight problems and barriers affecting equal employment, including lack of sufficient funds to continue training managers and employees in EEO-related subjects, managers' reluctance to designate positions for the upward mobility program, and severe underrepresentation in nontraditional occupations; (5) although some supervisors' civilian performance plans cited EEO responsibilities as a critical element, they generally described those responsibilities in vague or ambiguous terms; and (6) although Fort Lee improved its handling of EEO discrimination complaints, most of the formal complaints in process exceeded the Army's 180-day resolution time standard.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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