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Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity

Welcome to the NESDIS EEO & Diversity Homepage providing
the latest information involving diversity and EEO related issues.


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Policies, Procedures and Initiatives

On This Page

NOAA and NESDIS have EEO and Diversity related policies, procedures and initiatives in place that effect current NESDIS employees. The NESDIS Assistant Administrator’s EEO and Diversity policy statement lays the foundation for related actions and programs. Policies and procedures related to making a request for a reasonable accommodation, seeking out conflict resolution services, the filing of a discrimination complaint, accessing free and confidential counseling services, and protection from sexual orientation discrimination are found in the links below. Activities and goals of the NESDIS EEO & Diversity Council are also found in the links below.

Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws

Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws were created by Congress over the past 50 years. For legislation that effects employment, such laws covering age, religion, gender, race, national origin, genetic information, retaliation and disability prohibit discriminatory practices in the areas of recruitment, hiring and firing, compensation, training, promotions and other terms or conditions of employment. A description of each of these federal laws is found below.

The Equal Pay Act of 1963 [+]
requires that men and women in the same workplace be given equal pay for equal work, which is governed by job content. All forms of pay are covered by this law, including salary, overtime pay, bonuses, stock options, profit sharing and bonus plans, life insurance, vacation and holiday pay. http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/equalcompensation.cfm
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 [+]
outlawed major forms of discrimination against racial, ethnic, national and religious minorities, and women. It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public. Title VII of the act created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to implement the law. http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/titlevii.cfm
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967 [+]
forbids employment discrimination against anyone at least 40 years of age. It also specifically prohibits discrimination in hiring, promotion, wages or termination of employment and layoffs. http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/age.cfm
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 [+]
is federal legislation that authorizes the formula grant programs of vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, independent living, and client assistance. It also authorizes a variety of training and service discretionary grants administered by the Rehabilitation Services Administration. The Act also includes a variety of provisions focused on rights, advocacy and protections for individuals with disabilities. http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/rehab.cfm
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 [+]
recognizes and protects the civil rights of people with disabilities and is modeled after earlier laws prohibiting discrimination based on disability. The ADA covers a wide range of disability, from physical conditions affecting mobility, stamina, sight, hearing, and speech to conditions such as emotional illness and learning disorders. The ADA addresses access to the workplace (title I), State and local government services (title II), and places of public accommodation/commercial facilities (title III). It requires phone companies to provide telecommunications relay services for people with hearing or speech impairments (title IV) and miscellaneous instructions to Federal agencies that enforce the law (title V). http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-ada.html
The Civil Rights Act of 1991 [+]
was the first effort since the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to modify some of the basic procedural and substantive rights provided by federal law in employment discrimination cases: it provided for the right to trial by jury on discrimination claims and introduced the possibility of emotional distress damages, while limiting the amount that a jury could award. http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/cra-1991.cfm
The No-FEAR Act [+]
is the abbreviated name for the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002, a US federal law that requires Federal agencies to be accountable for violations of antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws. It requires all Federal agencies to post certain statistical data relating to Federal sector equal employment opportunity complaints quarterly on the agency’s public Web site, The Act requires agencies to pay awards for discrimination and retaliation violations out of their own budgets. http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/statistics/nofear/qanda.cfm
The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 [+]
revises the definition of "disability" to more broadly encompass impairments that substantially limit a major life activity. The amended language also states that mitigating measures, including assistive devices, auxiliary aids, accommodations and medical therapies (other than eyeglasses and contact lenses) have no bearing in determining whether a disability qualifies under the law. Changes also clarify coverage of impairments that are episodic or in remission that substantially limit a major life activity when active, such as epilepsy or post-traumatic stress disorder. The amendments took effect January 1, 2009. http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/docs/ADAAmendmentsAct2008BasicInformation.doc
The Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) [+]
makes it illegal to discriminate against employees or applicants because of genetic information. Title II of GINA prohibits the use of genetic information in making employment decisions, restricts employers and other entities covered by Title II (employment agencies, labor organizations and joint labor-management training and apprenticeship programs) from requesting, requiring or purchasing genetic information, and strictly limits the disclosure of genetic information. http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/genetic.cfm
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 [+]
is named after Lilly Ledbetter, who discovered her employer was paying her less than men doing the same job. This law makes it easier for Mrs. Ledbetter and others like her to effectively challenge unequal pay. Workers must file their claims within 180 days of a discriminatory paycheck in order for their case to be considered. http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/epa_ledbetter.cfm

Additional information on employment legislation is found at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website: http://www.eeoc.gov/

Special Emphasis Programs (SEP)

Special Emphasis Programs (SEP) are important pieces of an Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights Program. The purpose of SEP programs is to ensure that Federal agencies take affirmative steps to provide equal opportunity to minorities, women and people with disabilities in all areas of employment. SEPs usually include commemorative observances which are designed for the purpose of providing cultural awareness to employees. Observances celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., African American Heritage, Women's History, Asian Pacific Islander Americans, Women's Equality Day, Hispanic Americans, People with Disabilities and American Indian/Alaskan Native Heritage.

Minority Serving Institutions (MSI)

Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) make up a category of educational establishments in American higher education. MSIs are federally recognized Title IV colleges and universities, based on enrollment criteria, typically the percentage of enrolled minorities at a particular school. Such schools are eligible for federal funding under Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965. The six categories of MSI are as follows: historically black colleges and universities (HBCU); Black-serving non-HBCUs; Hispanic-serving institutions (HSI); Asian-serving institutions (ASI); American Indian-serving institutions - tribal colleges and universities (TCUs); and other minority-serving institutions in which minority students constitute at least 50 percent of the total undergraduate enrollment, but do not fit any of the above categories.

EEO Performance Elements

EEO & Diversity Performance Objectives have been established within the NOAA Satellite and Information Service (NESDIS) for the purpose of providing guidelines and milestones to employees for annual achievement of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity goals. The main goal is ensuring that employees will have the opportunity to work, train, advance, and enjoy all employment benefits without regard to race, national origin, color, gender, age, religion, disability, or sexual orientation and that the workplace shall be free of harassment and retaliation. Additionally, NESDIS seeks to recruit, hire, and develop a diverse range of individuals and encourage them to reach their full potential, to contribute their talents to mission accomplishment, and to thrive in an inclusive, respectful, and innovative work environment.

Federal Manager/Supervisor Performance Objective (link)

Federal NESDIS Employee Performance Objective/Ideas for Meeting the Objective (link)

Training

Listed below are Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Diversity themed videos that may be borrowed from the NESDIS EEO and Diversity Office. Some videos are in VHS format while some are DVD formats; newer videos are captioned while older videos may not be captioned. Descriptions of each video include the running time and year of its make. It is strongly advised that the NESDIS EEO & Diversity Advisors who sponsor showings of these videos to preview them first so you are ready to lead whatever discussion may ensue.

The videos may be used in a variety of settings within NESDIS – during staff meetings, at “brown bag” lunch time sessions, at specific times set as training sessions for your employees or in other ways. Please use care when removing/putting back the DVD in its case, as some borrowers have cracked a few of the DVDs and they are no longer useable. It’s best to show the videos on a DVD player and color monitor. If you do use a laptop and projection system to show a video, be sure to plug a speaker into the laptop, as the built-in laptop speaker will not be loud enough for attendees to hear.

As new videos become available, they will be added to the list. To borrow a video for a 2-week period, please send an email to: Rosemary.Pettis@noaa.gov and provide your name, complete mailing address, phone number, and name of video. Rosemary will ship the video to you via UPS. At the end of the 2-week period, please wrap the video in bubble wrap/padded mailer and send via UPS Ground to Rosemary at:

Rosemary Pettis, EEO and Diversity Manager NOAA Satellite and Information Service 1335 East West Hwy. SSMC1 Room 7232 Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301) 713-0329

Please contact Rosemary at the number above with any questions you may have.

Videos
  1. 1. The Tuskegee Airmen“The Tuskegee Airmen” – This inspiring World War II story spotlights 450 men who fought on two fronts at once. Black American aviators, known as the Tuskegee Airmen, battled Axis powers in Europe and North Africa and then took on racism at home.
    DVD-60 minutes (2003)
  2. 2. One Woman, One Vote“One Woman, One Vote” – How could America call itself the world's greatest democracy, but continue to deny the right to vote to more than half of its citizens? This program documents the struggle which culminated in the passing of the 19th Amendment in the U.S. Senate by one vote.
    DVD-106 minutes (1995)
  3. 3. Fly Girls“Fly Girls” – At the height of World War II, more than a thousand women left their homes and jobs for the opportunity of a lifetime--joining the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) to become the first female pilots to fly for the United States military. Drawing on archival footage, rarely seen home movies and interviews with pilots themselves, the women of the WASP take wing once again, to tell their story of skill, determination, and courage
    DVD-60 minutes (2006)
  4. 4. Mahatma Gandhi: Pilgrim of Peace“Mahatma Gandhi: Pilgrim of Peace” – Frail, brown skinned and dressed in a simple loin cloth, who is this man that broke the yoke of British colonialism and inspired a warrior of non-violence, Martin Luther King, Jr.? We know him as Mahatma Gandhi but he was more than that, as is shown in this documentary of his life.You see a Gandhi with all of the faults of men but also his work in overcoming those pieces of him that got in the way.  His story is the story of India and clearly shows might doesn't make right.
    DVD-50 minutes (1997)
  5. 5. Through Deaf Eyes“Through Deaf Eyes” – Through Deaf Eyes explores nearly 200 years of Deaf life in America. The film presents the experiences of American history from the perspective of deaf citizens. Interviews include actor Marlee Matlin, I. King Jordan, other community leaders, historians, and deaf Americans with diverse views on language use, technology and identity.
    DVD-120 minutes (2007)
  6. 6. The Untold Story of Emmet Louis Till“The Untold Story of Emmet Louis Till”—this documentary portrays the brutal murder of teenager Emmet Louis Till in 1955 and articulates the racism that existed in the South in the 1950’s.
    DVD—70 minutes (2005)
  7. 7. The Underground Railroad“The Underground Railroad”—the documentary traces the journey to freedom taken by countless slaves, showing how they were guided, protected, and pursued along the way. The extraordinary story is told through historical documents, visits to important sites and interviews with the descendants of noted abolitionists.
    DVD-150 minutes by the History Channel (2002)
  8. 8. Eleanor Roosevelt: A Restless Spirit“Eleanor Roosevelt: A Restless Spirit”—this documentary portrays the career and personal life of this phenomenal woman who impacted widespread issues, including feminism and civil rights, public policy and social work, and international peace relationships with the United States.
    DVD-50 minutes (2005)
  9. 9. Inside Islam”Inside Islam”—this film depicts the story of one of the most popular faiths in the world. Despite the sometimes confrontational connotations attached to Islam, the word itself is derived from the word for peace. Sacred sites are visited, and scholars are interviewed in this objective look at a faith that is held by millions throughout the world.>
    DVD-100 minutes History Channel (2002)
  10. 10. The Times of Harvey Milk“The Times of Harvey Milk”—gripping, Oscar winning documentary chronicles the political life and assassination of the first openly gay man elected to public office in California.
    DVD-80 minutes (1984)
  11. 11. A Class Apart: A Mexican American Civil Rights Story“A Class Apart: A Mexican American Civil Rights Story”—this documentary is built around the landmark 1951 legal case Hernandez v. Texas, in which an underdog band of Mexican Americans from Texas bring a case all the way to the Supreme Court – and win.
    DVD—60 minutes (2009)
  12. 12. Through a Dog's Eyes“Through a Dog's Eyes”—this documentary takes a look at the rearing, training, and placement of service dogs with people with disabilities and the profound impact they have on the lives of all the people involved in the process.
    DVD-60 minutes (2010)
  13. 13. Sitting Bull: Chief of the Lakota Nation“Sitting Bull: Chief of the Lakota Nation” —this documentary presents a moving and remarkable portrait of one of the last great Native American warriors. The film shows how he earned his place in history with his stunning victory in the Battle at Little Bighorn, as well as how he masterminded the victory at Custer’s Last Stand.
    DVD-50 minutes (2005)
  14. 14. Maya Lin: A Strong, Clear Vision“Maya Lin: A Strong, Clear Vision” – this film won the 1995 Academy Award for Best Documentary.Maya Lin designed the Vietnam War memorial in Washington, D.C. There was much controversy surrounding this design and the designer herself.
    DVD – 80 minutes.
  15. 15. The Broken Rainbow“The Broken Rainbow” – this Academy Award-winning documentary tells of the forced relocation of 12,000 Navajos from their ancestral homeland in Arizona that began in the 1970s.  
    DVD – 70 minutes.
  16. 16. Who are the DeBolts?“Who are the DeBolts?” – When Dorothy DeBolt's first husband died, she was left a widow with seven children, two of who were adopted from Korea. She moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1969 and adopted two Vietnamese boys who had been made paraplegics by the war. She then met and married Bob DeBolt, who had a daughter from his previous marriage. The DeBolts went on to adopt ten more children, nine of who were disabled.  This Academy Award-winning documentary shows us this remarkable family. .
    DVD – 70 minutes.
  17. 17. Lost Boys of Sudan“Lost Boys of Sudan” – Documentary about two young Dinka tribesmen who must flee a vicious civil war in their homeland of Sudan and risk thirst, starvation, and animal attack to reach refugee camps thousands of miles away in Kenya.Once there, the "lost boys'" journey begins again, as they are resettled in Houston, Texas, and must start new lives in a completely alien country. 
    DVD – 85 minutes.
  18. 18. Unfinished Business“Unfinished Business” – an Oscar-nominated film, it was one of the first documentaries to focus on the relocation of Japanese-Americans during World War II. It traces the effects of Executive Order 9066, which decreed, in the wake of Pearl Harbor, that Japanese-American citizens living on the U.S. west coast should be placed in relocation camps.In particular, we hear the stories of three men who separately defied the order and were arrested and jailed.
    DVD – 58 minutes.
  19. 19. Brick by Brick“Brick by Brick: A Civil Rights Story” – The film uses the bitter struggle over equal housing rights in Yonkers, New York during the1980s to show the "massive resistance" the Civil Rights Movement confronted when it moved north. Brick by Brick is not only a brilliant legal history of one of the most important cases in civil rights law, it narrates through the passionate experiences of Yonkers residents on both sides of the issue.
    DVD
  20. 20. Emmanuel's Gift“Emmanuel’s Gift” – 2004; Narrated by Oprah Winfrey, Emmanuel's Gift tells the story of a disabled orphan in Ghana, West Africa, whose father abandoned him, village dismissed him, and country thought him better off dead. This is the story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, who had nothing, but gave everything--and changed a nation forever.
    DVD – 80 mins.
  21. 21. A Thousand Roads“A Thousand Roads” – 2005; The lives of four Native Americans take significant turns as they confront the crises that arise in a single day. A young Inupiat girl, a Navajo homeboy, a Mohawk stockbroker, and a Quechua healer journey through the epic landscapes of Alaska, New Mexico, Manhattan, and Peru, drawing strength from their tribal pasts to transcend the challenges of the day and embrace the promises that await them.
    DVD – 40 mins.
  22. 22. Out of the Past: The Struggle for Gay and Lesbian Rights in America“Out of the Past: The Struggle for Gay and Lesbian Rights in America”– 1998; Director Jeff Dupre's documentary on the gay community is one part history lesson (profiles of obscure gay and lesbian historical figures) and one part smart reporting (a young lesbian attempts to form a Gay-Straight Alliance club in Salt Lake City). The film, written by Michelle Ferrari, is a dialogue between the past and the present, and an emotionally textured treatise on alienation and marginalization which is intelligent and entertaining.
    DVD – 78 mins.
  23. 23. Facing Arthur“Facing Arthur” – 2005: Follows the relationship between a young German descendant, the grandson of a soldier in Hitler’s Wehrmacht, and a 101 year-old Holocaust survivor who is too frail to leave his apartment. Before he was forced from his native Poland in 1938, Arthur Lederman was a renowned concert violinist. Christopher Erbsloeh is a budding cellist. From their first painful conversations, they discover that while history is unchangeable, they share a passion for music and art that transcends their differences and generations
    DVD – 60 mins.
  24. 24. Sound and Fury“Sound and Fury” – 2000; You might expect that the cochlear implant, a device that can give deaf people the gift of hearing, would be embraced by the deaf community. Josh Aronson's Sound and Fury, a compelling and often devastating documentary, tells a different story. Two brothers, one deaf and one hearing, grapple with a decision concerning their deaf children, and the debate that rages through the extended family turns less on technology and medical concerns than social politics and culture.
    DVD – 80 mins.
  25. 25. A Man Named Pearl“A Man Named Pearl” – 2006; a humble man with no education in horticulture who, after years of dedicated work, created an astonishing garden in the economically depressed town of Bishopville, S.C. But A Man Named Pearl doesn't just wander among the three acres of Fryar's beautifully sculpted trees and bushes.  The documentary shows how his singular vision spread out to affect the community, leading to Fryar being commissioned by art museums and turning Bishopville into a topiary mecca.  
    DVD – 78 mins.
  26. 26. Farmingville“Farmingville” – 2004; Winner of the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, this is a look into the ongoing nationwide controversy surrounding a suburban community, its ever-expanding population of illegal immigrants, and the shockingly hate-based attempted murders of two Mexican day laborers. In the late 1990s, some 1,500 Mexican workers moved to the leafy, middle-class town of Farmingville, NY: an influx of illegal immigrants crossing the border from Mexico to do work the locals won’t; rising tensions with the Anglo population; charges and counter-charges of lawlessness and racism; protest marches, unity rallies and internet campaigns.
    DVD – 78 mins.
  27. 27. ;A Sense of Wonder“A Sense of Wonder” – 1996; When pioneering environmentalist Rachel Carson published “Silent Spring” in 1962, the backlash from her critics thrust her into the center of a political maelstrom.Despite her love of privacy, her convictions about the risks posed by chemical pesticides forced her into a very public and controversial role.In the final year of her life, struggling with cancer, the video is an intimate look at Rachel Carson.   
    DVD – 55 mins.
  28. 28. Diversity: Food for Though“Diversity: Food for Thought” – is set in a diner where conversations between the owner and his customers emphasize the importance of understanding and accepting individual differences. Listen in on their exchanges and see how your organization can reduce discrimination, increase harmony and tap the power of diversity!
    DVD – 20 minutes.
  29. 29. Between You and Me: Resolving Conflict“Between You and Me: Resolving Conflict” – During several vignettes, viewers see how two employees are willing to resolve their conflicts, step-by-step, to ensure a better working relationship. The goal in resolving conflicts is to keep communication open and honest, to get both sides of the story, and to listen without judging.
    DVD – 28 minutes.
  30. 30. Promoting a Respectful Workplace“Promoting a Respectful Workplace” (2000) – captioned video about creating a harassment-free workplace
    VHS – 18 minutes
  31. 31. Gay Issues in the Workplace“Gay Issues in the Workplace” (1993) – non-captioned video in which gay, lesbian and bisexual employees speak for themselves about their life experiences.
    VHS – 23 minutes
  32. 32. Scottsboro: An American Tragedy“Scottsboro: An American Tragedy” – 2005; in March 1931, two white women stepped off a box car in Paint Rock, Alabama, with a shocking accusation of gang rape, by nine black teenagers on the train.  So began the Scottsboro case, one of the 20th century's fieriest legal battles. The youths' trial generated the sharpest regional conflict since the Civil War, led to momentous Supreme Court decisions, and helped give birth to the civil rights movement.     
    DVD – 84 mins.
  33. 33. The Mosque in Morgantown“The Mosque in Morgantown” – 2009; pesents a chronicle of life in a West Virginia Muslim community as it struggles to define itself in post-9/11 world.  The documentary features Asra Nomani now co-director of The Pearl Project Investigation at Georgetown University and a former Wall Street Journal reporter as she pushes for change at her hometown mosque.It also highlights the very different path to change being driven by the community's moderates.“The Mosque in Morgantown" deftly frames this local conflict as a lens to explore the larger dilemmas facing American Islam.   
    DVD – 76 mins.
  34. 34. Not in our Town“Not in our Town” – 2011; This documentary follows a community in crisis after the fatal attack of a local immigrant resident. Stunned by the violence, diverse community stakeholders openly confront the crime and the divisive atmosphere and commit to ongoing actions to prevent future hate crimes and intolerance.
    DVD – 60 mins.
  35. 35. Slavery by Another Name“Slavery by Another Name” – 2012;…challenges one of America’s deeply held assumptions - the belief that slavery in the US ended with Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - by telling the harrowing story of how, in the South, a new system of involuntary servitude took its place with shocking force.
    DVD – 90 mins.
  36. 36. Miss Representation“Miss Representation” – 2011; gives us an inside look at the media and its message. As the most persuasive and pervasive force of communication in our culture, media is educating yet another generation that a woman's primary value lay in her youth, beauty and sexuality - not in her capacity as a leader, making it difficult for women to obtain leadership positions and for girls to reach their full potential. The film accumulates startling facts and asks the question, "What can we do?"
    DVD – 90 mins.
  37. 37. Remembering Vietnam: The Wall at 25“Remembering Vietnam: The Wall at 25” – 2008; presents decorated Vietnam veteran, Jan Scruggs, whose vision in 1979 to build a Vietnam memorial was met with cynicism and opposition, and Maya Lin, the Yale undergraduate whose etched granite memorial was once called a “black gash of shame”, nearly halting the project.Now, 25 years later, this documentary explores the very personal story of The Wall, from its unlikely beginnings to its current status as Washington, D.C.'s most visited monument, drawing millions each year to grieve, pay tribute or heal old wounds.
    DVD – 60 mins.
  38. 38. The Other Side of Immigration&“The Other Side of Immigration” – 2010; based on many interviews in Mexican towns where about half the population has left to work in the United States, this documentary asks why so many Mexicans come to the U.S. and what happens to the families and communities they leave behind. Through an approach that is both subtle and thought-provoking, filmmaker Roy Germano provides a perspective on undocumented immigration rarely witnessed by American eyes, challenging audiences to imagine more creative and effective solutions to the problem.
    DVD – 60 mins.
  39. 39. Buck“Buck” – 2011; a richly textured and visually stunning film, follows Buck Brannaman from his abusive childhood to his phenomenally successful approach to horses. A real-life horse-whisperer, he eschews the violence of his upbringing and teaches people to communicate with their horses through leadership and sensitivity, not punishment. Buck possesses near magical abilities as he dramatically transforms horses - and people - with his understanding, compassion and respect.
    DVD – 90 min.
  40. 40. Stress : Portrait of a Killer“Stress – Portrait of a Killer” – 2008; So, how is stress like ice cream? Well, a little now and then is ok, a triple serving may only make you temporarily sick, but "all you can eat" might kill you!Robert Sapolsky's years of work studying stress makes him the #1 expert on the effects of stress on the brain.Prolonged, sustained, excessive stress and your similar response to it, not only causes deterioration of your brain, but it also compromises your immune system; your ability to fight off diseases; and is potentially life threatening.
    DVD – 50 mins.