Your Complaint Rights Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

Although there are some differences in the established timelines for the processing and resolution of the three types of complaints, it is both the implicit and express interest of this agency that all persons and/or organizations filing complaints shall be afforded fairness and due process in the investigation and resolution of their charges.

As an individual or entity you have certain rights regarding services you have received through the WIOA program. These include the right to file a complaint. There are three types of complaints that can be filed and they must be done within certain time frames.

You feel a program rule or process was not properly applied to your situation.

You feel you have been discriminated against based on your race, age, religion, national origin, sex, political affiliation or belief, age, disability, or citizenship status, as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States.

You believe you have information exposing fraudulent activity or abuse of the program.

• A WIOA Program Complaint can be taken to three levels, at any of which it can be resolved.

• First – At the Local level with the WIOA agency you are working with
• Must file within 1 year from date of incident
• Upon filing the complaint, an informal conference will be held within 10 days

• rendered within 60 days of the filing date
• Decision may be appealed to the State

If no informal resolution, a formal hearing will be held and a decision

• o Second – At the State level

File with Ohio Department of Job & Family Services (ODJFS)

Office of Workforce Development 4020 E. Fifth Avenue Columbus, OH 43219

Please contact: ODJFS, Office of Employee and Business Services, Bureau of Civil Rights 30 East Broad Street, 30th floor Columbus, OH 43215-3414 (866) 227-6353

• A state appeal of the local hearing decision must be filed within 10 days of that decision
• A Review of the hearing decision will be conducted and a decision rendered within 60 days of the state appeal filing date
• If a complaint was filed at the local level and no decision was rendered within 60 days, a complaint may be filed directly at the state level within one year of the date of original incident

• o Third – At the Federal level

File with U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)

Office of the Secretary Attention: ASET Washington, D.C. 20210

• level, a final appeal may be made at the federal level

If resolution of the initial complaint is not achieved at the local or state

For more detailed information on each step please visit: http://jfs.ohio.gov/owd/ WorkforceProf/Policy_Info.stm

U.S. Department of Labor Civil Rights Center 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Room N-4123 Washington, D.C. 20210

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. A proud partner of the American Job Center network.

o Must be filed within 180 days of the discriminatory act or treatment o The complaint will be reviewed and, if accepted, the opportunity for Alternative Dispute Resolution must be provided. If there is no resolution through the alternative dispute resolution process then the Bureau of Civil Rights will investigate. o A Final Report must be issued within 90 days from the complaint receipt date

• Fraud and Abuse Complaints must be filed with the Department of Labor’s Incident Reporting System o

U.S. Department of Labor Office Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations 200 Constitution Ave, NW. Room S 5514 Washington, D.C. 20210