§481a Workplace and Gender Relations Issues: Surveys of Department of Defense Civilian Employees

Summary

The Secretary of Defense must run a survey every other fiscal year of Department of Defense civilian employees to gather information about gender issues. The survey, called the "Department of Defense Civilian Employee Workplace and Gender Relations Survey," asks about the workplace climate between men and women, types and numbers of assaults (including unwanted sexual contact) by Department personnel or contractors in the prior fiscal year, signs of good or bad trends in male–female working relationships, how well policies to improve those relationships work, how well complaint and investigation processes work, and any other related issues the Secretary chooses. After each survey, the Secretary must send the results to Congress. The Secretary may delay a survey if a war or a national emergency declared by the President or Congress makes it impractical. If delayed, the survey must be done as soon as possible after the war or emergency ends (or sooner if the Secretary decides). The Secretary must tell Congress within 30 days after deciding to postpone.