Welcome
This page may be used by legislative branch employees to electronically file a claim with the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR). Claims must allege violation(s) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA), as amended by the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act of 2018 (Reform Act). See 2 U.S.C. § 1302(c); 2 U.S.C. §§ 1311-1317.
The OCWR's role is to be a neutral fact-finder and to resolve claims as promptly as possible. The OCWR does not act as an advocate for either party during the process.
The OCWR's role is to be a neutral fact-finder and to resolve claims as promptly as possible. The OCWR does not act as an advocate for either party during the process.
Confidential Advisor Services
You have the right to consult with an OCWR Confidential Advisor to discuss your concerns prior to submitting a claim. The Confidential Advisor is an experienced employment law attorney with broad knowledge of the laws applied by the CAA. The Confidential Advisor may discuss your workplace concerns with you and inform you of your rights under the CAA, and the OCWR’s administrative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures to resolve claims. If you are not represented by an attorney, the Confidential Advisor also may help you draft a claim. The Confidential Advisor may not represent any party in a proceeding. The services of the Confidential Advisor are provided on a privileged and confidential basis.
If you would like to request the assistance of the Confidential Advisor, please contact the OCWR at (202) 724-9250 or send an email to ConfidentialAdvisor@ocwr.gov.
If you would like to request the assistance of the Confidential Advisor, please contact the OCWR at (202) 724-9250 or send an email to ConfidentialAdvisor@ocwr.gov.
Before you proceed, please consider the following:
- Your claim must be filed no later than 180 days after the alleged violation(s) of the CAA.
- You must either be an employee, a former employee, an applicant, an intern, a detailee, or a fellow of the legislative branch at the time of the violation(s).
- You may file your claim electronically by clicking on the Create an Electronic Claim button, or you may download a copy of the form by clicking on the Download Claim Form button, and after completing it, you may email, mail, fax, or hand deliver it to the OCWR.
- After you have submitted your claim form, an electronic copy will be available to you in your secure claim folder created by the OCWR on its online platform. The OCWR will provide you a link to your secure claim folder via e-mail.
- Access to this secure folder will also be provided to the hearing officer(s) assigned to your case, the legal representative of your employing office, and your representative, should you choose to designate one. Subsequent documents may be uploaded to this folder by either party, the hearing officer(s), and the Clerk of the OCWR.
- Your claim will be processed in accordance with the CAA and the OCWR Procedural Rules. Voluntary mediation is available to the parties to seek to resolve a claim by mutual agreement.
- Please contact the OCWR (see contact information below) if you have any questions or need assistance with submitting your claim form.
- For security reasons, your data will not be stored on this website. Once you submit your claim form, all data is removed and transferred to your claim folder, which is maintained on an online platform, in a secure environment.
Amending your claim
You may amend your claim form within 15 CALENDAR DAYS after the filing of the initial claim form; a claim form may only be amended once. See OCWR Procedural Rule section 4.08(d).
To access the amended claim form, please click here
To access the amended claim form, please click here
Confidentiality
The confidential advising process, mediation, and all proceedings and deliberations of the OCWR Hearing Officers and the OCWR Board of Directors, including any related records, are confidential, in accordance with 2 U.S.C. § 1382(d)(2)(B) and § 1416(a)-(b), except as provided in 2 U.S.C. § 1382(d) and § 1416(c)-(e). However, during the course of any proceeding under the CAA, a covered employee is not prohibited from disclosing the factual allegations underlying the claim, and an employing office is not prohibited from disclosing the factual allegations underlying the employing office’s defense to the claim. 2 U.S.C. §1416(f).
At any time, an employee or an employing office may seek information on the OCWR’s procedures and on the protections, procedures, and rights and responsibilities available under the CAA. The OCWR will maintain the confidentiality of requests for such information.
At any time, an employee or an employing office may seek information on the OCWR’s procedures and on the protections, procedures, and rights and responsibilities available under the CAA. The OCWR will maintain the confidentiality of requests for such information.
Help Desk
If you encounter any technical difficulties in accessing or submitting this claim form, or if you need assistance with completing this form, please contact the OCWR at (202) 724-9250 or send an email to efilehelpdesk@ocwr.gov, Monday through Friday, between 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (except federal holidays).
The claim form is best viewed in these web browsers: Edge and Chrome.
ATTENTION: Users with Macintosh based computers or devices (MacOS/iOS), please contact the OCWR at (202) 724-9250 or send an email at efilehelpdesk@ocwr.gov before submitting a claim.
The claim form is best viewed in these web browsers: Edge and Chrome.
ATTENTION: Users with Macintosh based computers or devices (MacOS/iOS), please contact the OCWR at (202) 724-9250 or send an email at efilehelpdesk@ocwr.gov before submitting a claim.
v012324