Each and every employee deserves and is responsible for ensuring a supportive, safe, and inclusive workplace. If approaching a supervisor or manager about a workplace issue may not be feasible or effective, you have other options for assistance, counseling, and reporting.
These resources can be used alone or in combination to support you or someone else. If you are confused or concerned about your options, or need to talk confidentially about the pros and cons of various pathways, the National Park Service (NPS) Ombuds is a good place to start.
Ombuds
The NPS Ombuds office is an independent, impartial, informal, and confidential resource to explore resolution of individual and systemic problems affecting the workforce. It offers a safe haven for discussing, addressing, and resolving the full range of workplace problems without fear of reprisal. The ombuds is strictly confidential.
- Contact the NPS Ombuds, Sigal Shoham and Tahirih Varner, via email or at 844-288-7046.
Employee Assistance Program
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to all NPS employees for free, confidential counseling and support on mental health, financial, professional, and personal management assistance, and many other services, including video-enabled counseling. The service is strictly confidential.
- 24/7 hotline for counseling and support, 800-869-0276
Equal Employment Opportunity Counseling and Complaints
The Office of EEO can help when you feel you are being discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetics, and/or sexual orientation, even if you are unsure whether discrimination is a factor. EEO offers informal counseling and processes formal complaints. Remember that a complaint must be filed within 45 days of the incident.
- EEO Hotline, 202-354-1855
Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution (CADR) Support
Collaborative Alternative Dispute Resolution uses methods such as mediation and arbitration to resolve a dispute instead of litigation. The DOI CADR program, called “CORE PLUS,” provides these services.
- Contact the NPS’ DOI CADR specialist Ken Brodie via email or at 202-351-1979.
Employee Resource Groups
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) offer facilitated dialogue and discussion with like-minded peers. ERGs are voluntary, employee-led affinity groups that foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with their organizational mission, values, goals, practices, and objectives.
- Contact Lark Weller via email or at 651-293-8442 (voicemail).
Union Support
Bargaining unit employees (those not in human resources positions, supervisors, or confidential employees) may contact their local union representative.
Office of the Inspector General (OIG)
To report fraud, waste, or mismanagement to the Department, use the OIG Hotline by calling 800-424-5081 or submitting a hotline complaint form online. You can also report allegations in person at locations across the country. Whistleblower protection laws exist to protect employees who fear or suffer reprisal for making a disclosure.
Law Enforcement and Non-NPS Civil Authorities
If you believe you are the victim of a criminal offense, you may contact local law enforcement, which will determine whether the offence requires other civil authorities to be notified.
Ethics Office
The Departmental Ethics Office (DEO) has an ethics team within each bureau who provide employees with ethics advice, counsel, and education including training to ensure compliance with legal requirements measured across the Department of the Interior as a whole. Please contact the NPS Ethics Team, Departmental Ethics Office, Office of the Solicitor by email or by phone at (202) 513-7050 with any questions.
Last updated: August 16, 2022