FDIC Establishes Independent Misconduct & EEO Offices

WASHINGTON – The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Board of Directors has taken a decisive step to address workplace harassment and discrimination by establishing two new independent offices. Reporting directly to the Board, these offices are tasked with handling claims of sexual harassment, discrimination, interpersonal misconduct, and retaliation.

The Office of Professional Conduct (OPC) will be responsible for intake, investigation, and reporting on complaints related to harassment and other forms of interpersonal misconduct. It will also enforce discipline against individuals violating the FDIC’s anti-harassment or anti-retaliation policies.

Complementing the OPC is the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (OEEO), which will focus on intake, investigation, and reporting discrimination complaints under the laws enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The new offices were created in response to feedback from FDIC employees and recommendations from an independent third-party review of the agency’s workplace culture.

The OPC and OEEO will operate separately due to their distinct legal frameworks. The OPC will be guided by the FDIC’s Anti-Harassment Program Directive, while the OEEO will serve as a single point of entry for employment discrimination claims under various statutes enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Under this new structure, both offices will be led by corporate officers appointed directly by the FDIC Board of Directors. This move marks a significant shift in how the FDIC addresses workplace issues and is seen as a step towards ensuring a safer and more equitable environment for employees.