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Report on the Hispanic Employment Challenge in the Federal Government

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An EEOC work group examined concerns about federal sector employment including, but not limited to, hiring, leadership development, and retention. The work group provided recommendations designed to enhance and refocus federal Hispanic employment plans, to remove barriers, and to level the playing field to encourage greater opportunities for Hispanic applicants and employees throughout the Federal Government.

In 2008, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA), announced the creation of a Federal Hispanic Work Group. The Work Group was directed to examine concerns about federal sector employment including, but not limited to, hiring, leadership development, and retention. More importantly, it was given the responsibility of formulating recommendations designed to enhance and refocus federal Hispanic employment plans, to remove barriers, and to level the playing field to encourage greater opportunities for Hispanic applicants and employees throughout the Federal Government. The effort produced a comprehensive report containing an extensive number of practical recommendations that addressed a broad array of contemporary federal sector employment issues, including hiring, leadership development, and retention.

Key recommendations from the Work Group that were selected for implementation are:

  • Include EEO/diversity requirements in all hiring officials’ critical performance elements;
  • Establish a consortium of federal agencies whose mission-critical occupations include science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to coordinate recruitment efforts;
  • Develop a Hispanic Media Outreach Strategy and branding tool to assist agencies in marketing various types of federal employment;
  • Better utilize intern programs;
  • Create a government-wide mentoring program; and
  • Create full-time Hispanic Employment Program Manager positions to address Hispanic employment initiatives and programs.
  • This report continues to be a valuable reference for federal agencies seeking to determine how to best address a broad array of contemporary federal employment issues. Read the full report.