Affirmative Action

National Institutes of Health Does Not Fully Meet Federal Requirements Gao ID: HRD-86-37 March 5, 1986

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO evaluated equal employment opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action activities at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to assess how: (1) the reorganization of the Division of Administrative Services affected black employees; (2) the discrimination complaints process is working; (3) the affirmative action program is working; and (4) minorities and women are represented in the work force.

GAO found that, although the reorganization of the Division of Administrative Services caused anxiety among all of the employees and some blacks felt that they were treated unfairly, there was no evidence that minorities were treated differently than nonminorities, and no employees were downgraded or dismissed as a result of the reorganization. NIH took longer to investigate, render a decision on, and resolve discrimination complaints than other public health agencies because of internal management and personnel problems involving those responsible for the investigations. Although NIH appointed a new division director who initiated actions to improve processing, it needs to sustain its efforts and attention to ensure further improvements. NIH has not fully complied with four of the eight requirements for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Affirmative Action Program. Specifically, it has not: (1) established numerical hiring goals for underrepresented groups; (2) consistently implemented minority and female recruitment strategies; (3) collected key data to monitor the program; and (4) completed analysis of impediments to EEO. GAO believes that: (1) this noncompliance may have contributed to the continued underrepresentation of minorities and women; and (2) NIH management needs increased effort, strong commitment, and active support to bring its affirmative action plan into compliance.

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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