EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY & DIVERSITY POLICY STATEMENT

The mission of the International Trade Administration (ITA) is of critical importance to our nation’s prosperity and economic security. ITA’s strength lies first and foremost in our people, a group of outstanding and committed individuals whose diligence, vision and expertise drive progress for businesses, workers and communities across the United States every day. To enable our team to most effectively serve the American people, ITA is committed to nurturing a supportive work environment and strong community grounded in the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) and consistent with the Department’s policy on Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO).

ITA will strengthen and deepen our commitment to the values of EEO and DEIA to foster a culture of inclusion and respect at ITA. We will promote an environment that celebrates and embraces diversity and empowers employees to succeed to their full potential. Specifically, we will provide all current and future employees with EEO in areas such as hiring, professional career growth, promotion, leadership development, training, personnel/employment programs, management practices and decisions (including recruitment, transfers, reassignments, benefits and separations) and others.

ITA is committed to equal opportunity, ensuring that all employees have the freedom to compete on a fair and level playing field. As such, we will not tolerate discrimination or harassment (verbal or physical conduct) not limited to that based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, age (40 years of age and over), genetic information or disability, including the provision of reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. Further, retaliation against those who initiate discrimination or harassment complaints, serve as witnesses, or otherwise oppose discrimination or harassment is also strictly prohibited.

We continually strive to be an employer that recognizes and values individual differences and harnesses their power to improve our services and advance our priorities and mission. And we will not tolerate any exploitation or disparagement of the differences that make our community so vibrant and rich. Specifically, we will not tolerate in our workforce or workplace any misconduct that can create a hostile, intimidating or offensive environment, including racial or sexual epithets, foul language, unwanted sexual flirtations, ethnic jokes, derogatory statements, posters, drawings, slurs or improper contact. ITA managers and supervisors are responsible for preventing, documenting and promptly addressing such misconduct by reporting it to the Office of Human Resources Management. Managers and supervisors will be held accountable if they fail to promptly address such misconduct in the workplace. But make no mistake—ensuring a safe and welcoming work environment is a responsibility that we all share.

ITA seeks to immediately resolve workplace conflicts in a timely, impartial, confidential, nondiscriminatory and constructive manner. If you believe that you have been subjected to unlawful 1 discrimination, please contact Bonnie Worthy, ITA’s EEO Officer, at bwortlw@doc.gov, or on+ 1 (202) 482-8121 within 45 days of any action believed to be discriminatory.

As part of our responsibilities to the Department, ourselves and our colleagues, all ITA employees should understand existing policies, procedures and guidance on workplace conduct, including ITA’s Employee Code of Conduct Guidelines, as well as their EEO rights, the discrimination-complaint process, anti-harassment policy, and the Department’s reasonable accommodation policv and process, including Personal Assistance Services (PAS) procedures. As part ofITA’s duty to make every effort to reasonably accommodate people with disabilities, PAS allow employees with targeted disabilities, such as paralysis or cerebral palsy, to fully participate in the workplace by providing assistance with activities of daily living in the workplace.

Once again, I reaffirm my commitment to ensuring that equitable principles and practices are integrated into every facet of ITA’s culture and workforce practices, including ensuring that ITA will conduct all of its employment practices in a nondiscriminatory and harassment-free environment. Implementing our commitment to EEO and DEIA is a responsibility that we all share, and I welcome your joining me in doing your part to ensure that ITA remains an employer of choice and that our team reflects the diversity of our nation.

I fully support the EEO and DEIA programs and expect that each ITA manager, supervisor and employee will fully comply with all civil rights laws.

Marisa Lago   Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade  

/Reaffirmed – May  2023/