N.J. Admin. Code § 4A:7-3.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 4A:7-3.2 - Model procedures for internal complaints alleging discrimination in the workplace

Each State department, commission, State college or university, agency, and authority (hereafter referred to in this section as "State agency") is responsible for implementing this model procedure, completing it to reflect the structure of the organization, and filing a copy of the completed procedure with the Division of EEO/AA.

(a)" All employees and applicants for employment should promptly report suspected violations of the State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace, N.J.A.C. 4A:7-3.1(State Policy). The complainant shall have the burden to articulate a sufficient nexus between the alleged conduct to a protected category pursuant to the State Policy.

(b) Complaints of prohibited discrimination/harassment can be reported to either (name of Officer), the EEO/AA Officer, or to any supervisory employee of the State agency. Complaints may also be reported to (Authorized Designee). To facilitate the reporting of a complaint, Discrimination Complaint Processing Forms (DPF-481) can be found on the Appointing Authorities' Intranet or the Civil Service Commission's website.

(c) Complaints and allegations of discrimination/harassment should be reported promptly. Delays in reporting may not only hinder a proper investigation, but may also unnecessarily subject the victim to continued prohibited conduct.

(d) Supervisory employees shall immediately report all alleged violations of the State of New Jersey Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace to (Name of Officer), EEO/AA Officer. Such a report shall include both alleged violations reported to a supervisor, and those alleged violations directly observed by the supervisor.

(e) If reporting a complaint to any of the persons set forth in subsections (a) through (d) above presents a conflict of interest, the complaint may be filed directly with the Division of EEO/AA, PO Box 315, Trenton, NJ 08625. An example of such a conflict would be where the individual against whom the complaint is made is involved in the intake, investigative or decision making process.

(f) In order to facilitate a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation, all complainants are encouraged to submit a Discrimination Complaint Processing Form (DPF-481). An investigation may be conducted whether or not the form is completed.

(g) Each State agency shall maintain a written record of the discrimination/harassment complaints received. Written records shall be maintained as confidential records to the extent practicable and appropriate. A copy of all complaints (regardless of the format in which submitted) must be submitted to the Division of EEO/AA, by the State agency's EEO/AA Officer, along with a copy of the acknowledgement letter(s) sent to the person(s) who filed the complaint and, if applicable, the complaint notification letter sent to the person(s) against whom the complaint has been filed. If a written complaint has not been filed, the EEO/AA Officer must submit to the Division of EEO/AA a brief summary of the allegations that have been made. Copies of complaints filed with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or in court also must be submitted to the Division of EEO/AA.

(h) During the initial intake of a complaint, the EEO/AA Officer or authorized designee will obtain information regarding the complaint, and determine if interim corrective measures are necessary to prevent continued violations of the State's Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace. Interim corrective actions include, but are not limited to:

1. Separation of parties;

2. Removal or parties from the workplace; and

3. Involvement of law enforcement, when appropriate, for instances involving bodily harm or serious bodily harm.

(i) At the EEO/AA Officer's discretion, a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation into the alleged harassment or discrimination will take place. In determining whether or not a thorough and impartial investigation is warranted, the EEO/AA Officer when reviewing complaints shall consider, but is not limited to considering, the following factors: the facts presented, whether the complainant articulated a sufficient nexus between the alleged conduct to a protected category as set forth in N.J.A.C. 4A:7-3.1(a), the time the incident(s) occurred, the time the incident was reported, and whether the complainant and/or respondent is a current State employee (regardless of when the incident occurred).

(j) An investigative report will be prepared by the EEO/AA Officer or his or her designee when the investigation is completed. The report will include, at a minimum:

1. A summary of the complaint;

2. A summary of the parties' positions;

3. A summary of the facts developed though the investigation; and

4. An analysis of the allegations and the facts. The investigative report will be submitted to (State agency head) who will issue a final letter of determination to the parties.

(k) The (State agency head or designee) will review the investigative report issued by the EEO/AA Officer or authorized designee, and make a determination as to whether the allegation of a violation of the State's Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace has been substantiated. If a violation has occurred, the (State agency head or designee) will determine the appropriate corrective measures necessary to immediately remedy the violation.

(l) The (State agency head or designee) will issue a final letter of determination to both the complainant(s) and the person(s) against whom the complaint was filed, setting forth the results of the investigation and the right of appeal to the Civil Service Commission as set forth in subsections (m) and (n) below. To the extent possible, the privacy of all parties involved in the process shall be maintained in the final letter of determination. The Division of EEO/AA shall be furnished with a copy of the final letter of determination.

1. The letter shall include, at a minimum:

i. A brief summary of the parties' positions;

ii. A brief summary of the facts developed during the investigation; and

iii. An explanation of the determination, which shall include whether:

(1) The allegations were either substantiated or not substantiated; and

(2) A violation of the Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace did or did not occur.

2. The investigation of a complaint shall be completed and a final letter of determination shall be issued no later than 120 days after the initial intake of the complaint referred to in (h) above is completed.

3. The time for completion of the investigation and issuance of the final letter of determination may be extended by the State agency head for up to 60 additional days , which may be extended for good cause, in cases involving exceptional circumstances. The State agency head shall provide the Division of EEO/AA and all parties with written notice of any extension and shall include in the notice an explanation of the exceptional circumstances supporting the extension.

(m) A complainant who is in the career, unclassified, or senior executive service, or who is an applicant for employment, who disagrees with the determination of the (State agency head or designee), may submit a written appeal, within 20 days of the receipt of the final letter of determination from the (State agency head or designee), to the Civil Service Commission, PO Box 312, Trenton, NJ 08625. The appeal shall be in writing and include all materials presented by the complainant at the State agency level, the final letter of determination, the reason for the appeal, and the specific relief requested.

1. Employees filing appeals which raise issues for which there is another specific appeal procedure must utilize those procedures. The Commission may require any appeal, which raises issues of alleged discrimination and other issues, such as examination appeals, to be processed using the procedures set forth in this section or a combination of procedures as the Commission deems appropriate. See 4A:2-1.7.

2. If an appeal under this chapter raises issues concerning the employee not receiving an advancement appointment, the Commission shall decide those issues in the course of its determination.

3. The Civil Service Commission shall decide the appeal on a review of the written record or such other proceeding as it deems appropriate. See 4A:2-1.1(d).

4. The appellant shall have the burden of proof in all discrimination appeals brought before the Civil Service Commission.

(n) In a case where a violation has been substantiated, and no disciplinary action recommended, the party(ies) against whom the complaint was filed may appeal the determination to the Civil Service Commission at the address indicated in (m) above within 20 days of receipt of the final letter of determination by the State agency head or designee.

1. The burden of proof shall be on the appellant.

2. The appeal shall be in writing and include the final letter of determination, the reason for the appeal, and the specific relief requested.

3. If disciplinary action has been recommended in the final letter of determination, any party charged who is in the career service may appeal using the procedures set forth in N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2 and 3.

(o) The Director of the Division of EEO/AA shall be placed on notice of, and given the opportunity to submit comment on, appeals filed with the Civil Service Commission of decisions on discrimination complaints, regardless of whether or not the complaint was initially filed directly with the Director of EEO/AA.

(p) Any employee or applicant for employment can file a complaint directly with external agencies that investigate discrimination/harassment charges in addition to utilizing this internal procedure. The time frames for filing complaints with external agencies indicated below are provided for informational purposes only. An individual should contact the specific agency to obtain exact time frames for filing a complaint. The deadlines run from the date of the last incident of alleged discrimination/harassment, not from the date that the final letter of determination is issued by the State agency head or designee.

1. Complaints may be filed with the following external agencies:

i. Division on Civil Rights

N.J. Department of Law & Public Safety

(Within 180 days of the discriminatory act)

ii. US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

(Within 300 days of the discriminatory act)

N.J. Admin. Code § 4A:7-3.2

Amended by 46 N.J.R. 1331(c), effective 6/2/2014.

Amended by 47 N.J.R. 2972(a), effective 12/7/2015

Amended by 51 N.J.R. 1115(a), effective 7/1/2019

Modified by Executive Order No. 103(2020) 52 N.J.R. 974(a), effective 4/9/2020