U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
PRESS RELEASE
6-18-18
Barriers and Recommendations Identified by Focus Groups
WASHINGTON -- In its continuing effort to aid the federal government in serving as a model employer, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today issued its federally focused report addressing equal employment opportunities for women in various public safety occupations.
The report, entitled Recruitment & Hiring Gender Disparities in Public Safety Occupations, is intended to serve as a government-wide resource guide of leading practices for federal agencies when recruiting and hiring for these positions. The EEOC conducted legal and social science research and met with focus groups of EEO directors, human resources staff, and public safety employees within selected Federal government agencies as part of its evaluation. The focus group participants reported possible barriers and suggested leading practices that may help increase female participation in public safety occupations government-wide.
The following are barriers identified in the Recruitment & Hiring Gender Disparities in Public Safety Occupations report:
Several recommendations from the EEOC's focus groups to improve the recruitment and hiring of women in public safety occupations include:
The EEOC plans to finalize a second report on promotion and retention in federal public safety positions later this fiscal year.
The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.