Instructions

This form may be used by legislative branch employees to file a claim with the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR). Claims must allege violation(s) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA), as amended by the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act of 2018 (Reform Act). See 2 U.S.C. § 1302(c); 2 U.S.C. §§ 1311-1317.

The OCWR’s role is to be a neutral fact-finder and to resolve claims as promptly as possible. The OCWR does not act as an advocate for either party during the process. The OCWR essentially has two options for resolving claims, either through mediation or adjudication.

You have the right to receive assistance from an OCWR Confidential Advisor.

IMPORTANT: If you have questions or concerns about how to complete this Claim Form, the Administrative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process of the OCWR, or the specific employment laws applicable to your workplace, and you do not have a designated attorney representative, you have the right to consult, at no cost to you, with an OCWR Confidential Advisor. The Confidential Advisor can inform you about your rights under the CAA and the OCWR’s procedures, discuss your concerns, and consult with you regarding your claims and the options that are available to you under the CAA for resolving them. The Confidential Advisor will provide these services to you on a privileged and confidential basis.

The Confidential Advisor may not, however, act as your representative in any proceeding under the CAA. If you would like to request the assistance of the Confidential Advisor, please contact the OCWR at (202) 724-9250 or send an email to ConfidentialAdvisor@ocwr.gov.

Filing and Submission:

Your claim must be filed no later than 180 days after the alleged violation(s) of the CAA. You must either be an employee, a former employee, an applicant, an intern, a detailee, or a fellow of the legislative branch at the time of the violation(s).