NRCS Civil Rights Division Training - Topics

If you are interested in requesting the training given by the Civil Rights Division (CRD), for your staff or in conjunction with your future all employees meeting, please contact the NRCS, CRD at (301) 504-2181. For additional information, please refer to the CRD Website at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/

Alternative Dispute Resolution:

This workshop is designed to give participants an understanding of Alternative Dispute Resolution (e.g. Mediation), which is based on the theory that a mediator (neutral third party), can assist disputing parties in negotiating a resolution, maintain productive work relationships, re-establish trust and respect. The participant will review the areas in which mediation can be used; EEO Complaints, Administrative Grievances; Workplace Conflict.

Reasonable Accommodations:

This workshop is deigned to help the participant understand what Reasonable Accommodations are and the workplace barriers that may exist that may keep some individuals from performing jobs which they could do with some form of accommodation. These barriers may be physical obstacles (such as inaccessible facilities or equipment), or they may be procedures or rules (such as rules concerning when work is performed, when breaks are taken, or how job tasks are performed). The participant will learn how Reasonable Accommodations removes workplace barriers for individuals with disabilities.

Conflict Management:

Conflict is only natural, but in this workshop you can learn to make it work to your advantage. You will learn how to deal with conflict when it erupts in the workplace and manage disagreements positively and proactively. You will review five conflict management styles and learn how to turn conflict into collaboration. You will recognize the causes of interpersonal conflict, become aware of your emotional triggers to prevent explosive situations, learn new strategies of conflict management that will improve your communication performance.

Preventing a Hostile Work Environment:

The hostile work environment is one of the most litigious EEO issue in the judicial system. In addition, this often undetected, unaddressed, and misunderstood issue often results in high absenteeism and personnel turnover, a reduction in productivity, and a general decline in employee morale. This workshop is designed to more clearly define the term “Hostile Work Environment (HWE)”. The participant will understand how harassment, speech or conduct can create a “hostile or abusive work environment” based on race, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, color, and reprisal.

Prevention of Sexual Harassment:

This workshop is designed to make employees aware of what Harassment is, and whether or not they are engaging in a harassing behavior or being harassed themselves, and what their limits and their rights are. You will learn how to prevent harassment in the workplace, and understand employer liability, according to EEOC guidelines. This training explains the ways a victim of sexual harassment or non-sexual harassment can report the harassment to a manager, and document the harassing incidents by keeping a journal, identifying a witness, and confiding in a co-worker.

Religious Discrimination in the Workplace:

The law prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals because of their religion in all aspects of their employment. This workshop will guide the participant in learning about what treatment or behaviors are acceptable and what are not. The participants will also learn about the requirements pertaining to religious accommodation.

Civil Rights Compliance and Program Delivery:

This workshop will provide general information on how various Civil Rights laws, rules, and regulations interface to form the foundation for equal access in compliance and program delivery. It will cite civil rights laws and regulations to identify responsible employees regarding program delivery; diversity and cross-cultural communication; program outreach; use of management tools; representation on boards; accessibility; and the program assessment process. It will facilitate discussion on how to interact, and communicate effectively with partners, program recipients, and stakeholders. It also will provide opportunities for participants to understand what it means to have accessibility in the workplace.

Disability Awareness:

This workshop is designed to familiarize the participant with what is involved in assisting an employee with a disability in obtaining reasonable accommodation. This training will help employees develop awareness of disabilities that will assist them in their interactions with coworkers with disabilities and foster an environment free of discrimination.

Workforce Diversity:

This workshop is designed to increase understanding of the effects of cultural diversity in the workplace. You will learn to identify the impact of individual differences in communications, expectations, and interactions. Participants will also develop and practice strategies for maximizing efforts and results towards creating a positive climate for diversity in the workplace.