Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
The Office of Diversity, Equality, and Training (ODET) provides general guidance and oversight of statewide EEO compliance. The office develops standard procedures, monitors agency responsiveness and exercises investigative authority on behalf of the Office of the Secretary to address complaints of workplace harassment and discrimination in accordance to
KRS 18A.025.
Pursuant to relevant state and federal laws, it is the Commonwealth of Kentucky's policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all people in all aspects of employer-employee relations without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, age, pregnancy or related medical condition, marital or familial status, disability, veteran status, political affiliation, or genetic information.
Employer-employee relations shall include, but not be limited to, hiring, promotion, termination, tenure, recruitment and compensation.
The Governor's LEAD Conference is one of the largest conferences of its kind in the region, and largest in the state. This year’s event has been expanded in scope and size and attracts business professionals, state agencies, university students and private sector professionals. The one-and-a-half-day conference has three tracks and an all-star lineup of presenters from both the private and public sector. Topics of discussion will include leadership development, diversity in the workplace, women in leadership, increasing disability awareness and job accommodation, addressing disproportionality in the court system and more.
For complete information about the Kentucky Conference on Leadership and Diversity, please visit the following link:
Conference page.
Additionally, this gathering offers the Personnel Cabinet the opportunity to recognize an individual (or individuals) who has made a significant contribution in the area of equal opportunity with the
Charles W. Anderson Laureate Award.
For more information, feel free to contact the Office of Diversity, Equality, and Training at 502.564.8000 and/or E-mail:
Office of Diversity, Equality, and Training.
Discrimination and Harassment are unlawful.
Harassment is any unwelcome verbal or physical conduct based on any of the protected classes. Actions are considered harassing when the conduct culminates into a tangible employment action, or when the conduct was sufficiently severe or pervasive to create a hostile work environment.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky will not tolerate harassment. Complaints of harassment will be promptly and carefully investigated. All employees are assured that they will be free from any and all reprisal or retaliation from filing such complaints. Further, all employees are assured that they will be free from any and all reprisal and retaliation for participating in an investigation of harassment.
Anti-Harassment
The Commonwealth of Kentucky's employees and applicants are guaranteed the following rights:
The right to freedom from discrimination in employment.
The right to equal opportunity in hiring, promotion, transfer, recruitment, layoff, rate of compensation, training and all other aspects of the employment process.
The right to file a complaint if you believe discrimination has occurred.
The right to work in an environment free of discrimination and harassment.
State employees are encouraged to express their concerns regarding existing or potential barriers or prohibitions to equal employment opportunity in accordance with state and federal laws. Agency/Cabinet EEO Coordinators and Counselors are charged with providing guidance to state employees who believe they have experienced discrimination or harassment under the guidelines of Federal and State law and conduct investigations where warranted. You can find your agency EEO coordinator
here. Assistance is also available by contacting our office.
State employees may also contact the
Kentucky Commission on Human Rights and/or the
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Both agencies process discrimination complaints from public and private-sector employees. For questions regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact the
State ADA Coordinator. For information on filing a complaint through the grievance process please visit our Grievances
page for more information.
