EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IS THE LAW

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NoRTEC (Northern Rural Training and Employment Consortium) and its AJCCs are required by law to foster and ensure equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in the operation of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs and activities.   

Programs shall be open to all qualified individuals.  No one shall be excluded from participation, denied benefits, subjected to discrimination or denied gainful employment because of race, ethnicity or national origin, age, disability, sex, religion, political affiliation or belief, retaliation or citizenship.

WIOA applicants, participants and staff shall be free to file complaints and participate in hearings, investigations or compliance reviews without the threat of intimidation, coercion or discrimination.

What to Do if You Believe You Have Experienced Discrimination

If you think that you have been subjected to unlawful discrimination under a WIOA assisted program or activity, you may file a complaint within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation with either:

Andrea Campos, Equal Opportunity Officer

NoRTEC

525 Wall Street, Chico, CA  95926

(530)892-9600, CA Relay 7-1-1

English Voice (800) 735-2922/English TTY (800)735-2929

Spanish Voice/TTY (800) 855-3000

English and Spanish Speech to Speech (800)-854-7784

or

Director, Civil Rights Center (CRC)

US Department of Labor

200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N-4123, Washington, DC  20210

Fax: (202) 693-6505 ATTENTION: Office of External Enforcement (limit of 15 pages)

Email: CRCExternalComplaints@dol.gov

If you file your complaint with NoRTEC, you must wait either until NoRTEC issues a written Notice of Final Action, or until 90 days have passed (whichever is sooner) before filing with the CRC.

If NoRTEC does not give you a written Notice of Final Action within 90 days of the day on which you filed your complaint, you do not have to wait for NoRTEC to issue the Notice before filing a complaint with CRC. However, you must file your CRC complaint within 30 days of the 90day deadline (in other words, within 120 days after the day on which you filed your complaint with NoRTEC).

*This statement is a summary of NoRTEC’s Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Policy.  A copy of the full policy can be accessed here: http://ncen.org/images/documents/policies/Equal-Opportunity-Nondiscrimination-Policy.pdf

Customer Service

We always strive to provide good service.  As a participant in our program, you may have a concern or a compliment.  Please tell us, we want your feedback!  If you have a concern, we will work with you to resolve it informally.  If that isn’t successful, we will help you file a formal complaint.  In Shasta and Trinity Counties call (530) 246-7911 and ask for a supervisor.

Thank you!

Program Grievance/Complaint Procedure

As a participant in our program, you have a right to file a grievance or complaint about any aspect of the program.  Please let us know your concerns, and we will try to resolve them informally. If that does not work, we will help you file a formal complaint by providing written instructions and other assistance you may need.

The filing of a formal complaint will be considered a request for a hearing. You will receive a prompt and impartial hearing and you are guaranteed by federal law that you will be free from restraint, coercion, or reprisal from us as a result of filing a complaint. If for any reason you feel uncomfortable talking to us about your concerns, you may call NoRTEC, our oversight agency, at (530) 892-9600, and ask for someone who can help you file a complaint.

In summary, the process and timelines associated with the filing of a formal complaint are as follows: First please try to resolve the issue informally by talking to us about it. If this does not work, you must file a formal complaint with NoRTEC. The complaint must be in writing and filed within one year of the alleged occurrence. We will provide you with instructions on what must be included in the formal complaint and we will help you write it, if you want. You may also seek assistance from NoRTEC. You must sign and date the formal complaint. Your impartial hearing will be conducted within 30 days of the filing of your formal complaint, and you will be notified at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing. You will receive a written decision from your impartial hearing no later than 60 days from the date you filed your written complaint. If you disagree with the written decision from the impartial hearing, you may file an appeal with the Employment Development Department (EDD). This appeal must be written and filed or postmarked within 10 days from the date on which you received the written decision, and submitted to the following address: Chief, Compliance Review Office, MIC 22-M, Employment Development Department, P.O. Box 826880, Sacramento, CA  94280-0001. NoRTEC will help you file the appeal, if you want.

If you do not receive the written decision from your impartial hearing within 60 days from the date you first filed your formal complaint or you experienced an instance(s) of restraint, coercion, or reprisal as a result of filing the formal complaint, you may file a Request for EDD Review.  This request must be written and filed or postmarked within 15 days from either (1) the date you should have received your decision, or (2) the date on which you believe you experienced an instance(s) of restraint, coercion, or reprisal. The request must be submitted to the following address: Chief, Compliance Review Office, MIC 22-M, Employment Development Department, P.O. Box 826880, Sacramento, CA  94280-0001. NoRTEC will help you file the request for review, if you want.

Thank you!