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HOLLAND & KNIGHT LAW FIRM
Release Date: 11/22/2000
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FOR RELEASE: WEDNESDAY, NOV. 22, 2000
Administrator Carol M. Browner and Deputy Administrator W. Michael McCabe today announced that EPA has retained the services of the nationally recognized law firm of Holland & Knight to review EPA’s workplace fairness and diversity practices. Leading Holland & Knight’s team will be D.C. Attorney Weldon Latham, well-known for his pivotal role in helping some of America’s largest corporations strengthen their diversity practices. Today’s actions mark another important step in EPA’s ongoing efforts to build an institutional culture that is fair and equitable for every member of the EPA workforce.
“EPA is absolutely committed to a workplace free of discrimination. By bringing in leading and widely respected independent reviewers, we are taking another important step in our efforts to secure fairness for all employees, regardless of race, religion, gender, age or sexual orientation,” said Deputy Administrator McCabe. “EPA has made tremendous progress during this Administration in building a diverse and fairly managed workforce. But we recognize that this goal requires constant vigilance and advancement.”
In the last eight years, EPA’s progress in building and maintaining a diverse, skilled workforce has been unparalleled in the agency’s history. During the Clinton-Gore Administration, EPA has expanded minority representation in the senior management by more than 116 percent. Among the agency’s Senior Executive Service – the federal government’s highest leadership ranks – EPA has more than tripled the number of minorities and increased representation by women by fifty percent.
As part of the agency-wide review, Holland & Knight will evaluate EPA’s management practices, hiring and promotions policies, as well as the agency’s diversity policies and practices. At the conclusion of the intensive review, Holland & Knight will make recommendations to the Agency on how best to strengthen existing policies and expand on the progress to date.
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