Please note that, because of a lapse in appropriations, the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR) is closed. OCWR staff, hearing officers, mediators, and court reporters are not available to respond to inquiries. Any requests for information, training, or other activity requiring an OCWR staff person to respond will not be handled while the OCWR is closed due to a lapse in appropriations.
Parties to a pending claim filed with the OCWR before September 23, 2025, will receive or have received an order or notice from the OCWR hearing officer or mediator handling the claim addressing scheduling, deadlines, or any other matters as they may be impacted by the lapse in funding and closure of the OCWR.
Parties to a claim filed with the OCWR on or after September 23, 2025, should note that no hearing officer has been appointed to handle the claim and, therefore, no OCWR procedural deadlines have been triggered. Upon the restoration of funding for the OCWR, the OCWR will process the claim, and further guidance will be forthcoming after that time. Any statutory deadline unrelated to proceedings before the OCWR, however, cannot be and has not been modified by the OCWR, including any deadline related to filing an action in a United States District Court or appealing an OCWR Board decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
For legislative branch employees who may have a claim or petition to file with the OCWR under the Congressional Accountability Act but have not yet filed their claim or petition, please note that during a lapse in appropriations and resulting closure of the OCWR office, covered employees may continue to file (1) claims through SOCRATES, the OCWR’s online filing system, or via electronic mail, postal mail, or facsimile and (2) petitions via electronic mail, postal mail, or facsimile. Because the OCWR office is closed, it will not be possible for a claimant to hand deliver a claim form or petition during a lapse in appropriations.
Dispute Resolution Forms
The following forms are provided to assist a claimant in pursuing a claim of a violation of sections 201–206 and 208 of the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA), 2 U.S.C. §§ 1311-1317, under the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR) Administrative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process. To learn more, visit the Dispute Resolution page.
Once these forms are completed, please print, sign, scan and e-mail the completed form to OCWRefile@ocwr.gov.
Request to Exceed Page Limit Form
Notice of Designation of Representative
Filing and Submission:
Please e-mail completed forms to OCWRefile@ocwr.gov; or hand-deliver to Room LA-200, John Adams Building, 110 Second Street SE, Washington, DC 20540-1999; or fax to (202) 426-1913.
The best method for filing a claim with the OCWR is electronically through the OCWR’s Secure Online Claims Reporting and Tracking E-filing System (SOCRATES) web application. The claim form must be filed with the OCWR during the 180-day period that begins on the date of the alleged violation of the CAA.
Filing the claim form initiates formal proceedings on a claim(s) alleging that the CAA has been violated. Immediately after a claim form is submitted, a copy will be provided to the employing office. Visit the How to File a Claim with the OCWR page to learn more.
You may file one amended claim form as a matter of right within 15 calendar days after you file your initial claim form. Please contact the OCWR if you have any questions about amending a claim.
Please note: The OCWR provides employees the services of a Confidential Advisor. The Confidential Advisor is an experienced employment law attorney with extensive knowledge of the employee protection laws applied by the CAA. The Confidential Advisor may discuss employees’ workplace concerns and inform them of their rights and options under the CAA. The Confidential Advisor also may help employees draft a claim, but may not represent them in any proceeding. The Confidential Advisor will provide these services, at no cost, on a privileged and confidential basis.
*A special claim form must be used by applicants for employment vacancies with employing offices in the legislative branch to file a claim alleging violations(s) of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act (FCA), which is codified at Section 207 of the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA), 2 U.S.C. § 1316b. The FCA prohibits employing offices from requesting that applicants for most jobs disclose information on their arrest and conviction history before a conditional job offer is made.
Occupational Safety and Health
Safety and Health Inspection Request
Legislative branch employees have rights under the CAA ensuring that their workplace is free from health and safety hazards. If there is a suspected health or safety hazard on the Capitol campus or in a district office, an employee may complete the form below and submit it to the OCWR.
Request for Safety and Health Inspection of Employing Office Form 1341
Please e-mail completed forms to OSH@ocwr.gov; or hand-deliver to Room LA-200, John Adams Building, 110 Second Street SE, Washington, DC 20540-1999; or fax to (202) 426-1913.
OSH Self-Certification for District and State Offices Form
The Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) applies provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) to the legislative branch. Every Congress, safety specialists from the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR) inspect legislative branch offices and facilities to ensure that they are free from known safety hazards under the OSH Act. The OCWR presents Safety Recognition Awards to those Members of Congress who presented a hazard-free workplace on the date of the OCWR inspection and completed a brief self-certification form regarding basic safety measures for all of their additional district or state offices. The self-certification is voluntary and not required by the CAA. Each district and state office should complete the Safety Inspection Checklist, but only one certification form is required to be submitted for each Member of Congress. For additional guidance, contact the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights at (202) 724-9250, the House Service Center at (202) 225-4141, or the Senate Service Center at (202) 224-3141.
OSH Self-Certification Form for District and State Offices (Online Form)
OSH Self-Certification Form for District and State Office (PDF version)
ADA Inspection Request
Members of the public (including legislative branch employees and constituents) have rights under the CAA ensuring that the Capitol Hill complex and district and state offices are accessible to individuals with disabilities in the provision of public services and accommodations established by Titles II and III of the ADA. To request an ADA inspection or to file a charge alleging a violation of the ADA, please complete the form below.
Please e-mail completed forms to ADAaccess@ocwr.gov; or hand-deliver to Room LA-200, John Adams Building, 110 Second Street SE, Washington, DC 20540-1999; or fax to (202) 426-1913.
Request for ADA Inspection Form
Fair Chance to Compete (Ban the Box)
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019 (FCA), also known as the Federal “Ban the Box” law, prohibits Federal employers, including employing offices in the legislative branch, from requesting that applicants for most jobs disclose information on arrest and conviction history before a conditional job offer is extended to the applicant. This form may be used by applicants for employment vacancies with employing offices in the legislative branch to file a claim with the OCWR alleging violations(s) of the FCA, which is codified at Section 207 of the Congressional Accountability Act, 2 U.S.C. § 1316b.
Please e-mail completed forms to OCWRefile@ocwr.gov.
Labor-Management Rights
Representation Proceedings
The term “representation proceedings” in labor-management relations usually refers to elections, clarifications of bargaining units, consolidations of bargaining units, and/or decertifications of bargaining units.
For more information about representation proceedings, please see our Labor-Management Relations FAQs.
Please download the appropriate forms for use with OCWR Representation Proceedings:
Petition Form 1351d is used to request an election; determine eligibility for dues allotment in an appropriate unit without an exclusive representative; and clarify, amend, consolidate, or decertify a bargaining unit.
Notice of Designation of Representative Form, Form 75
Withdrawal Request Form, Form 43
Impasse
At the point in the negotiation of conditions of employment where the parties are unable to reach an agreement, despite efforts to do so by direct negotiations and the use of third-party mediation or other arrangement, a party or parties may request the Board consider the matter by filing a request that the Board consider a negotiation impasse or approve a joint request for binding arbitration procedure to resolve a negotiation impasse.
Unfair Labor Practice Charge
Section 220 of the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) prohibits unfair labor practices (ULPs) as set forth in the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (FSLMRS) at 5 U.S.C. § 7116. If a legislative branch employee, union, or employing office believes that a ULP has occurred, the aggrieved party may file a ULP Charge with the OCWR General Counsel, using the appropriate form below. The OCWR General Counsel is responsible for investigating and prosecuting meritorious ULP Charges as provided in Part 2423 of the OCWR’s labor-management regulations.
Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against an Employing Office, Form 1351c-EO
Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against a Labor Organization, Form 1351c-LO