Equal Employment Opportunity Plan

Section 1 – Purpose

Harris County (the County) is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. Accordingly, the County assesses applicants and employees on individual merit and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal and state laws. The only exceptions are based on bona fide occupational qualifications.

The purpose of this Plan is to identify the County's commitment and delineate certain practices that will confirm that commitment and to comply with requirements such as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title 28 C.F.R. subpart E, § 42.301 et. seq. (for law enforcement grants) and Title 41 C.F.R. § 60-2.24 (for HUD grant recipients).

This Plan supersedes any previous Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Plans. This Plan applies to every employee of the County and the Harris County Flood Control District unless an elected or appointed official promulgates a different written policy on the subject applicable only to the official's employees.


Section 2 – Prohibitions

Employees must not, in their official capacity, discriminate in employment practices against any person because of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal and state laws. "Employment practices" as used in this Plan means all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, advertising, screening, classification, selection, appointment, hiring, assignment, transfer, promotion, demotion, discipline, layoff, termination, leave practices, rates of pay, fringe benefits, or other forms of pay or credit for services rendered, and access to and use of county facilities.


Section 3 – Evaluation by HR & Risk Management

The Harris County Office of Human Resources & Risk Management Department evaluates employment opportunities under this Plan and in so doing:

  1. Identifies and analyzes any problem areas inherent in the utilization or participation of all qualified persons...
  2. Analyzes and identifies problem areas separately for recruitment, selection, and promotion of minorities and women.

Section 4 – Enforcement

In addition to other duties, the Director of the Human Resources & Risk Management Department administers and enforces this Plan by:

  1. Disseminating this Plan to all Department Heads...
  2. Ensuring that this Plan is available on the intranet web page...

Supporting Documents