NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt employs civil servants and contractor staff side by side, from engineers and scientists to administrative and support personnel. When discrimination, harassment, or retaliation happens there, the federal EEO process, meaning the equal employment opportunity complaint system federal agencies must follow, is usually the first step for civil servants. It runs on tight deadlines that are easy to miss. A Maryland federal employee attorney will check those deadlines first. Below are six things Goddard employees should know, followed by five Maryland law firms that represent employees in discrimination matters.
What should Goddard employees know about EEO complaints?
1. How quickly do you have to act?
Within 45 days. Under EEOC regulations at 29 C.F.R. § 1614.105, a federal employee must contact an agency EEO counselor within 45 days of the discriminatory act, or within 45 days of the effective date of a personnel action. Missing this deadline is one of the most common reasons federal discrimination claims are dismissed, regardless of their merits.
2. What happens during informal counseling?
The counselor gathers basic facts and tries to resolve the issue informally. Counseling generally lasts up to 30 days and can be extended by up to 60 more if you agree. You may also be offered alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation. If the matter is not resolved, you will receive a notice of your right to file a formal complaint, and you then have only 15 days to file it.
3. How does the investigation work?
After you file a formal complaint, the agency investigates and prepares a report of investigation, often called the ROI. Regulations generally require the investigation to be completed within 180 days, with extensions possible by agreement. Give the investigator documents and witness names early, because the ROI becomes the core record for every later stage.
4. Should you request a hearing or a final agency decision?
Once you receive the ROI, you have 30 days to request a hearing before an EEOC administrative judge or ask NASA for a final agency decision. A hearing allows discovery and live testimony, while a final agency decision is based on the written record. After a final decision, you can appeal to the EEOC’s Office of Federal Operations within 30 days or file in federal court within 90 days. You can also file in court if 180 days pass after your formal complaint without a final decision.
5. Does the process apply if you work for a contractor?
No. Many people at Goddard are employed by private contractors, not NASA. Contractor employees do not use NASA’s EEO process. They generally file a charge with the EEOC against their actual employer, usually within 300 days in Maryland. Check your pay stub or offer letter if you are not sure which group you are in.
6. What remedies are available, and are you protected from retaliation?
Remedies can include back pay, promotion or reinstatement, attorney’s fees, and compensatory damages for emotional distress, which are capped at $300,000 for federal agencies under Title VII and the Rehabilitation Act. Participating in the EEO process is protected activity, so an agency may not retaliate against you for filing a complaint, serving as a witness, or requesting an accommodation. Retaliation is itself a separate claim.
Which Maryland law firms help with EEO complaints?
- The Mundaca Law Firm
- Joseph, Greenwald & Laake
- Pines Federal Employment Attorneys
- Ellison Sadri
- The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford
1. The Mundaca Law Firm: Maryland Federal Employee Attorney
The Mundaca Law Firm is led by Francisco E. Mundaca, Esq., Founding Partner, with a Maryland office at 1997 Annapolis Exchange Parkway, Suite 300, in Annapolis. The firm represents federal workers at agencies across Maryland, including NIH, FDA, the Social Security Administration, NSA, and military installations with civilian workforces.
Its federal practice covers each stage of the EEO process, from counseling and the formal complaint through the investigation, hearings before EEOC administrative judges, and federal court. The firm handles race, sex, age, disability, pregnancy, and retaliation claims, along with hostile work environment complaints and Rehabilitation Act accommodation disputes. Consultations are confidential.
2. Joseph, Greenwald & Laake
A Greenbelt firm with several practice areas, including employment law.
3. Pines Federal Employment Attorneys
A Pikesville, Maryland firm focused on federal employment matters.
4. Ellison Sadri
An Annapolis firm whose practice includes employment law.
5. The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford
A Columbia, Maryland firm that handles employment matters.
Why does timing matter so much in an EEO case?
The federal EEO process is a chain of short deadlines: 45 days to contact a counselor, 15 days to file a formal complaint, 30 days to request a hearing, and 30 or 90 days for appeals and court. Missing one can end a strong case. Keep a written timeline, save emails and documents, and note the names of witnesses. If you work at Goddard and believe you have been treated unfairly, a Maryland federal employee attorney can help you meet each deadline and build your record.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
