Federal Employment: Progress of Women and Minorities in Key Federal Jobs and Handling of EEO Complaints at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms

GAO discussed the progress of women and minorities in key federal jobs and how sexual harassment and equal employment opportunity complaints are handled at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF). GAO noted that: (1) the relative numbers of white women and minorities at grade 15 and below increased between 1984 and 1990; (2) the employment of women has increased in relative number more than men, except for Native Americans; (3) increases in representation levels were more significant for Asian and Hispanic men and women than for black men and women; (4) BATF has not adequately developed, implemented, or communicated its role in addressing incidents of alleged sexual harassment and other discriminatory behavior; (5) there have been concerns about the lack of confidentiality during BATF internal investigative processes and a disparity in the rights accorded to complainants during separate BATF inquiries on the same incident; and (6) BATF has tasked a group to help develop a better program for combating discrimination, sexual harassment, and reprisals.