[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 9]
[Revised as of July 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1979.104]

[Page 205-206]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR
 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                          OF LABOR (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1979_PROCEDURES FOR THE HANDLING OF DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS 
 
  Subpart A_Complaints, Investigations, Findings and Preliminary Orders
 
Sec. 1979.104  Investigation.

    (a) Upon receipt of a complaint in the investigating office, the 
Assistant Secretary will notify the named person of the filing of the 
complaint, of the allegations contained in the complaint, and of the 
substance of the evidence supporting the complaint (redacted to protect 
the identity of any confidential informants). The Assistant Secretary 
will also notify the named person of his or her rights under paragraphs 
(b) and (c) of this section and paragraph (e) of Sec. 1979.110. A copy 
of the notice to the named person will also be provided to the Federal 
Aviation Administration.
    (b) A complaint of alleged violation will be dismissed unless the 
complainant has made a prima facie showing that protected behavior or 
conduct was a contributing factor in the unfavorable personnel action 
alleged in the complaint.
    (1) The complaint, supplemented as appropriate by interviews of the 
complainant, must allege the existence of facts and evidence to make a 
prima facie showing as follows:
    (i) The employee engaged in a protected activity or conduct;

[[Page 206]]

    (ii) The named person knew or suspected, actually or constructively, 
that the employee engaged in the protected activity;
    (iii) The employee suffered an unfavorable personnel action; and
    (iv) The circumstances were sufficient to raise the inference that 
the protected activity was a contributing factor in the unfavorable 
action.
    (2) For purposes of determining whether to investigate, the 
complainant will be considered to have met the required burden if the 
complaint on its face, supplemented as appropriate through interviews of 
the complainant, alleges the existence of facts and either direct or 
circumstantial evidence to meet the required showing, i.e., to give rise 
to an inference that the named person knew or suspected that the 
employee engaged in protected activity and that the protected activity 
was a contributing factor in the unfavorable personnel action. Normally 
the burden is satisfied, for example, if the complaint shows that the 
adverse personnel action took place shortly after the protected 
activity, giving rise to the inference that it was a factor in the 
adverse action. If the required showing has not been made, the 
complainant will be so advised and the investigation will not commence.
    (c) Notwithstanding a finding that a complainant has made a prima 
facie showing, as required by this section, an investigation of the 
complaint will not be conducted if the named person, pursuant to the 
procedures provided in this paragraph, demonstrates by clear and 
convincing evidence that it would have taken the same unfavorable 
personnel action in the absence of the complainant's protected behavior 
or conduct. Within 20 days of receipt of the notice of the filing of the 
complaint, the named person may submit to the Assistant Secretary a 
written statement and any affidavits or documents substantiating his or 
her position. Within the same 20 days the named person may request a 
meeting with the Assistant Secretary to present his or her position.
    (d) If the named person fails to demonstrate by clear and convincing 
evidence that it would have taken the same unfavorable personnel action 
in the absence of the behavior protected by the Act, the Assistant 
Secretary will conduct an investigation. Investigations will be 
conducted in a manner that protects the confidentiality of any person 
who provides information on a confidential basis, other than the 
complainant, in accordance with 29 CFR part 70.
    (e) Prior to the issuance of findings and a preliminary order as 
provided for in Sec. 1979.105, if the Assistant Secretary has 
reasonable cause, on the basis of information gathered under the 
procedures of this part, to believe that the named person has violated 
the Act and that preliminary reinstatement is warranted, the Assistant 
Secretary will again contact the named person to give notice of the 
substance of the relevant evidence supporting the complainant's 
allegations as developed during the course of the investigation. This 
evidence includes any witness statements, which will be redacted to 
protect the identity of confidential informants where statements were 
given in confidence; if the statements cannot be redacted without 
revealing the identity of confidential informants, summaries of their 
contents will be provided. The named person shall be given the 
opportunity to submit a written response, to meet with the investigators 
to present statements from witnesses in support of his or her position, 
and to present legal and factual arguments. The named person shall 
present this evidence within ten business days of the Assistant 
Secretary's notification pursuant to this paragraph, or as soon 
afterwards as the Assistant Secretary and the named person can agree, if 
the interests of justice so require.