About us

Vision

The County of Santa Clara will reflect a diverse, inclusive, and harmonious environment where each person is valued.​

Our services

The Equal Opportunity Division (EOD) provides comprehensive services to the County organization in compliance with County policies and federal and state laws.  EOD administers a protected-class discrimination/harassment/retaliation complaint process for employees and applicants for employment; administers the County's Reasonable Accommodation Policy and procedures; and conducts training in the prevention of sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, as well as training regarding diversity and reasonable accommodation.  EOD also develops the County's Equal Employment Opportunity Plan and provides input regarding the Disadvantage Business Enterprise Program.

EOD also provides Conflict Resolution Services (CRS) for County staff and departments.  CRS supports the development of harmonious work environments by modeling and implementing healthy conflict-resolution practices that when adopted by individuals, pairs, and groups, create happier, more productive teams.

FAQs regarding the Equal Opportunity Division

1. What is the relationship between the Equal Opportunity Division (EOD) and the Office of County Counsel?
   1. On July 1, 2021, EOD transferred from the Office of the County Executive to the Office of the County Counsel (CCO). Attorneys from CCO’s Equal Opportunity and Employment Investigations Team provide legal advice to EOD as when EOD was in the Office of the County Executive to ensure that EOD thoroughly, timely, fairly, and accurately determines whether a County employee, former employee, or third party has violated applicable County equal opportunity policies and to ensure that the County complies with its reasonable accommodation obligations. If any policy violation is found, these attorneys work with EOD and the relevant department(s) to remedy the violation.
   2. If an aggrieved employee files a lawsuit against the County or presents a government claim to the County, those matters are handled by a separate group of attorneys in CCO’s Civil Rights, Tort, and Employment Litigation Team, which defends the County in lawsuits against the County, its officials, and/or its employees.  The Assistant County Counsel overseeing CCO’s Civil Rights, Tort, and Employment Litigation Team is different than the Assistant County Counsel overseeing EOD.
2. If I have a question or concern about an EOD investigation, who should I contact?
   1. If there is a question or concern about an EOD investigation, please share that question or concern with the assigned investigator, an Equal Opportunity Supervisor, or the Equal Opportunity Director.