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All State employees and applicants for employment have the right to be free from unlawful discrimination based on their protected class. OCFS’s discrimination prevention policy is outlined in the handbook, RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: A Handbook for New York State Employees.
A protected class is a group of people with a common characteristic who are legally protected from employment discrimination on the basis of that characteristic. Protected classes include: race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, age, marital status, domestic violence victim status, disability, pregnancy-related condition, predisposing genetic characteristics, prior arrest or conviction record, familial status, and gender identity. Employees and applicants for employment are also protected against retaliation for opposing unlawful discriminatory practices.
Employees and applicants for employment who believe they have been treated in a manner that violates policy, may file a complaint internally with the Anti-Discrimination Investigations Division.) This complaint form may be submitted electronically to GOER at antidiscrimination@goer.ny.gov or printed out and mailed directly to GOER at the address on the form.
Employees and applicants for employment may also file complaints externally with the New York State Division of Human Rights, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and other venues.
Reasonable Accommodation Policies and Forms
It is the policy of OCFS to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants for employment to enable the individual to have an equal opportunity to participate in the application process and to be considered for a job. Information regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants for employment is can be found in the policy PPM 2154.00 - Reasonable Accommodation for Applicants and Employees with Disabilities.
- OCFS-2154a - Application to Request a Reasonable Accommodation of a Disability
- OCFS-2156f - Medical Documentation for a Reasonable Accommodation
- OCFS-2156a - Application to request a Reasonable Accommodation
Contact
Questions regarding discrimination may be directed to antidiscrimination@goer.ny.gov, by fax at 518-473-8358, or by phone at 518-474-3715.
Questions regarding reasonable accommodation may be directed to OCFS's Designee for Reasonable Accommodation at 518-473-7936, by fax at 518-474-0017, or email: ocfs.sm.Personnel@ocfs.ny.gov.
Governor's Office of Employee Relations
Anti-Discrimination Investigations Division
Empire State Plaza
Agency Building 2
Albany, NY 12223
Email: antidiscimination@goer.ny.gov