Hispanics at EEOC's Houston Office

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed employment practices at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) Houston District Office, focusing on Hispanic employees. GAO noted that: (1) 26 percent of the office's 80 employees were Hispanic as of September 30, 1993; (2) 1 female and 3 male Hispanic employees held grade 13 or 14 positions; (3) the female Hispanic employee held a nonsupervisory grade 13 position; (4) in the past, other Hispanic employees held grade 14 and higher positions at the Houston office and 1 female Hispanic employee held a grade 13 supervisory position; (5) 12 Hispanic employees and 1 Hispanic job applicant have filed 22 employment discrimination complaints against the Houston office, which is a slightly higher complaint rate than the overall EEOC rate; (6) a third party has attempted to file a complaint on behalf of female Hispanic employees at the Houston office, but it is unclear whether the third-party has the right to do so under current regulations; and (7) EEOC does not believe there is a discrimination problem at the Houston office.