29 C.F.R. Section 16`4.601

29 C.F.R. Section 1614.601

Subpart F - Matters of General

Applicability

º1614.601 EEO group statistics.

(a) Each agency shall establish a system to collect and maintain

accurate employment information on the race, national origin, sex and

handicap(s) of its employees.

(b) Data on race, national origin and sex shall be collected by

voluntary self-identification. If an employee does not voluntarily

provide the requested information, the agency shall advise the

employee of the importance of the data and of the agency's obligation

to report it. If the employee still refuses to provide the

information, the agency must make visual identification and inform the

employee of the data it will be reporting. If an agency believes that

information provided by an employee is inaccurate, the agency shall

advise the employee about the solely statistical purpose for which the

data is being collected, the need for accuracy, the agency's

recognition of the sensitivity of the information and the existence of

procedures to prevent its unauthorized disclosure. If, thereafter,

the employee declines to change the apparently inaccurate

self-identification, the agency must accept it.

(c) The information collected under paragraph (b) of this section

shall be disclosed only in the form of gross statistics. An agency

shall not collect or maintain any information on the race, national

origin or sex of individual employees except when an automated data

processing system is used in accordance with standards and

requirements prescribed by the Commission to insure individual privacy

and the separation of that information from personnel record.

(d) Each system is subject to the following controls:

(1) Only those categories of race and national origin prescribed

by the Commission may be used;

(2) Only the specific procedures for the collection and

maintenance of data that are prescribed or approved by the Commission

may be used;

(3) The Commission shall review the operation of the agency system

to insure adherence to Commission procedures and requirements. An

agency may make an exception to the prescribed procedures and

requirements only with the advance written approval of the Commission.

(e) The agency may use the data only in studies and analyses which

contribute affirmatively to achieving the objectives of the equal

employment opportunity program. An agency shall not establish a quota

for the employment of persons on the basis of race, color, religion,

sex, or national origin.

(f) Data on handicaps shall also be collected by voluntary

self-identification. If an employee does not voluntarily provide the

requested information, the agency shall advise the employee of the

importance of the data and of the agency's obligation to report it.

If an employee who has been appointed pursuant to special appointment

authority for hiring individuals with handicaps still refuses to

provide the requested information, the agency must identify the

employee's handicap based upon the records supporting the appointment.

If any other employee still refuses to provide the requested

information or provides information which the agency believes to be

inaccurate, the agency should report the employee's handicap status as

unknown.

(g) An agency shall report to the Commission on employment by

race, national origin, sex and handicap in the form and at such times

as the Commission may require.