Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement
Metra has a strong commitment to the community we serve and our employees. As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, age (40 and older), national origin, disability (physical or mental), citizenship status, genetic information, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, military and veteran status, marital status, unfavorable military discharge, arrest record, orders of protection status, or other protected classes.
Metra’s EEO Policy applies to all employment actions including, but not limited to recruitment or recruitment advertising, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay, or other forms of compensation, treatment of employees, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment. All applicants and employees have the right to file complaints alleging discrimination. Metra prohibits and does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who file charges or complaints of discrimination, participates in employment discrimination proceedings (such as investigations or lawsuits), or otherwise engages in protected activities. Metra is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees who need them because of disabilities or to practice, or observe their religion, absent undue hardships.
As Metra’s CEO/Executive Director, I maintain overall responsibility and accountability for Metra’s compliance with its EEO Policy and Program. To ensure day-to-day management of the EEO Program, including program preparation, monitoring, and complaint investigation, I have appointed Patricia Emanuel, Director, EEO and Diversity of the EEO Department. Ms. Emanuel will report to me and acts with my authority with all levels of management, labor unions, and employees.
All Metra executive team personnel, managers and supervisors share in the responsibility for implementing and monitoring Metra’s EEO Policy and Program within their respective areas and will be assigned specific tasks to ensure compliance is achieved. Metra will evaluate its executive team personnel, managers’, and supervisors’ performance on their successful implementation of Metra’s policies and procedures, in the same way Metra assesses their performance regarding other agency goals.
Metra’s EEO Program is a written non-discrimination program that sets forth the policies, practices, and procedures, with goals and timetables, to which the agency is committed. The EEO Department monitors and reports progress towards the implementation of EEO policies and procedures. The EEO Program is available for inspection in the EEO Department by any employee or applicant for employment upon request.
I am personally committed to a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. Further, I expect any entity with which Metra does business, to support this policy by complying with all applicable federal, state, and local equal employment opportunity laws and regulations.
I encourage you to direct any questions about the EEO Program to the EEO Department by phone at (312) 322-8919, by fax at (312) 322-4273, or email at metraeeo@metrarr.com.
James M. Derwinski
CEO/Executive Director
EEO Policies
As a key part of Metra’s equal employment opportunity policy, Metra takes affirmative action, so that minorities, women, protected veterans, and qualified disabled individuals are introduced into the workforce and considered for promotional and other opportunities, and to affirmatively address any imbalances between these categories in the current workforce. To further its commitment, Metra has an Affirmative Action Plan, which is on file in Metra’s EEO office and available for review upon request.
All Metra executives, managers, and supervisors share the responsibility for supporting and implementing Metra’s EEO program and affirmative action goals and are evaluated on their successful implementation. To that end, each senior department leaders’ affirmative action accomplishments and their commitment to equal employment opportunity practices are reviewed annually with Metra’s EEO Officer, where the parties identify any areas of needed improvement. The EEO Department communicates these findings to the CEO/Executive Director. Metra takes proactive measures to address problem areas where appropriate.
Discrimination is adverse treatment of an employee or applicant based on the individual’s perceived or real membership in a protected class, including race, color, disability, religion, sex, pregnancy, age (40 and older), national origin, disability, citizenship status, genetic information, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, and veteran status, marital status, unfavorable military discharge, arrest record, order of protection status, and any other status protected by applicable law. Metra prohibits discrimination.
Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment; submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as a basis of an employment decision affecting the individual; or such conduct has the purpose and effect of interfering with the employee’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.
Sexual harassment can happen regardless of the individual’s gender, gender identity, or gender expression. It does not have to be motivated by a sexual reason. Sexual harassment may be subtle or direct and may involve individuals of the same or opposite sex.
Metra prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with a disability in job application processes, hiring, firing, job training, and other terms and conditions of employment. Metra includes all employees without regard to physical or mental disabilities, in the participation and receipt of benefits.
Retaliation is adverse action taken against an individual for engaging in protected activity, including filing, being a witness, providing information, or otherwise participating in a workplace or government EEO complaint, investigation, or lawsuit and complaining to Metra supervisors about workplace discrimination.
Metra prohibits retaliation against individuals who, in good faith, assert their rights to oppose prohibited conduct or participate in any proceedings, including filing charges or complaints of discrimination or harassment, participating in employment discrimination proceedings (such as an investigation or lawsuit), or otherwise engaging in protected activities. This protection does not apply to an employee who knowingly makes a false report.
EEO Complaint Form
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and sexual harassment. Gender identify and sexual orientation are also viewed as forms of sex discrimination under Title VII.
Discrimination is also prohibited by the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Act (USERRA), the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, the Illinois Human Rights Act, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA).
Any employee or applicant who believes they have been harassed, discriminated, or retaliated against should complete and submit the EEO Complaint Form below to the EEO Department.
(This is a fillable form depending on your browser. If your browser will not allow the form to be filled, download the form for use with the Adobe Acrobat program.)
Download EEO Complaint Form Here
Metra’s EEO Department
547 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60661
Phone: 312-322-8919
Fax: 312-322-4273
Email: metraeeo@metrarr.com
If you need assistance completing the form, feel free to contact the EEO Department at 312-322-8919 or e-mail metraeeo@metrarr.com
