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Equal Employment Opportunity FAQs
What is the Office of Equal Opportunity and Equity?
The Office of Equal Opportunity and Equity provides centralized leadership to East Carolina University’s efforts to ensure compliance and equity in all programming, employment and educational opportunity. For more information on our mission and goals visit the home page.
What is Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)?
Equal Employment Opportunity grants all applicants and employees equal opportunity in all personnel matters such as recruitment, selection, hiring, promotion, compensation, performance appraisal, disciplinary actions, benefits, transfers, training, etc. Applicable federal EEO laws, state EEO laws, and ECU policies prohibit discrimination and/or harassment of a person or class of persons belonging to a federally or institutionally protected class.
What is a protected class?
A protected class is a group of people that share common characteristics and are protected from discrimination and harassment. Most protected classes are covered by federal and state laws. ECU’s protected classes are age, color, creed, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation and veterans’ status. For a complete list of definitions of each protected class click here.
How do I know if I belong to a protected class?
Most people belong to several protected classes—protected classes are for everyone. For example, belonging to the protected class of sex/gender means that you are covered whether male or female. The class of religion offers protection for those that belong to an organized religion or those that do not practice any religion (e.g. atheism).
What if my complaint is not associated with ECU’s 10 protected classes? What if my supervisor is just being rude?
There are a number of processes established to address workplace issues. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Equity handles complaints based on any of the ten protected classes, i.e. if you feel that your supervisor is being discriminatory on the basis of race or age or sexual orientation in his or her hiring practices. If your supervisor is just being rude, volatile or insensitive, contact the Employee Relations Unit within Human Resources at 328-9848.
What if I feel that I am being harassed or discriminated against based on my membership in a protected class?
If you feel that you have been discriminated or harassed based on a protected class, you may file a complaint with our office. For more information about filing a complaint, please see the Grievance Procedures section of this site.
Is sexual harassment covered under EEO law?
Yes, in fact, sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination. State and federal agencies define two types of sexual harassment: “Quid Pro Quo” and “Hostile Environment”.
If you feel that you have been harassed or discriminated against East Carolina University has a procedure in place to file and investigate harassment or discrimination charges. The East Carolina University manual reads:
“East Carolina students, faculty members, and administrators or visitors who believe that they are victims of sexual, racial, or ethnic harassment or discrimination by East Carolina University Faculty members or administrators with faculty status should bring the matter to the attention of the University Equity Officer.”
Taffye Benson Clayton is the University Equity Officer and can be reached at 252-328-6804 or claytont@ecu.edu. |
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