In Congress, the “Boardroom” is Not Your Only Option
Avoiding the Boardroom
Have you dreamed of being on “The Apprentice”? Although your application may have been rejected, the good news for you is that workplace disputes in Congress have more avenues for resolution than confronting the Donald in the “Boardroom.” As a Legislative Branch employee, you can settle workplace disputes through your office’s grievance process. And if your dispute involves a matter covered by the law, you can utilize the neutral process established by the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA).
The CAA, passed in 1995, applies 12 civil rights, labor, and workplace safety laws to Congress and Legislative Branch entities and establishes a dispute resolution system emphasizing counseling and mediation for the resolution of disputes. The goal of the CAA’s dispute resolution process is to settle disputes at the soonest possible time and, if possible, in an informal manner that avoids formal administrative processes or legal action. This saves both employees and employers the stress and hassle of formal legal actions. It is important to remember that garden-variety matters such as interpersonal conflicts, job titles, or vacation and leave policies are not covered by the CAA, and thus are not subject to the CAA’s dispute resolution process. Disputes regarding these issues should be resolved through your employing office’s own grievance process.
Certain rights applied by the CAA are not enforced through the counseling and mediation process. The General Counsel of the Office of Compliance may bring an enforcement action when violations of safety and health, labor-management relations, and public services and accommodations rights of disabled persons are alleged.
Dispute Resolution Under the CAA
The dispute resolution process under the CAA is a multi-step process beginning with mandatory counseling and mediation. All employees, including district office staff, must follow established dispute resolution procedures in order to process their claims under the CAA.
