How to File Discrimination in the Workplace
According to eeoc.gov, there are five major acts governing workplace discrimination. The Civil Rights Act contains general provisions for workplace discrimination on the basis of color, religion, sex, and nationality. More specific laws, such as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Equal Pay Act, contain provisions for more specific cases. If you feel that you have been a victim of discrimination in any form, you have the right to file a discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which will conduct an investigation of the alleged discriminatory actions.
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Things You'll Need
- Thorough documentation of events
- Contact information of witnesses
- Telephone
- Internet-equipped PC (optional)
Instructions
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Filing a Discrimination Claim
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Use the EEOC's online assessment system or call its toll-free hot line to gain more insight into your specific case. Follow the link at the end of this article to begin the online assessment, which will ask questions about your specific case and provide guidance on the steps that you should take to expedite your claim. Call 800-669-4000 to conduct the same type of interview with an EEOC agent, who will forward your information to the appropriate EEOC field office to get your claim started.
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Locate the EEOC office that is nearest to the location of the harassment. Be careful when selecting the specific office to contact. The office that is nearest your home or workplace may not necessarily be the one that is closest to the location where the discrimination actually took place. Follow the link at the end of this article to find a list of field offices around the U.S.
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Call and set up an appointment with your chosen EEOC office. Bring all documentation related to the incident, as well as the personal information of anyone who witnessed the discriminatory actions.
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Send your complaint by mail if an in-person visit is not feasible. Call and ask your chosen EEOC office for its mailing address and all requirements for filing by mail. You will generally need to include all pertinent contact information for yourself, your employer and any witnesses, as well as a descriptive narrative of the events, including dates, times, locations and possible motivations for the discriminatory actions. Do not forget to sign your complaint before mailing it in.
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Contact the EEOC representative in your agency to begin the claim process if you are a federal employee. The claim process will be a bit simpler. The representative will walk you through the claim process in person, and will submit the claim on your behalf.
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Tips & Warnings
File your claim as soon as possible to ensure you meet the filing deadline. According to eeoc.gov, the deadline for filing a claim in a state that has fair employment practice laws is 300 days after the incident occurred; all other states have a deadline of 180 days. Federal employees must be extra careful; the deadline for filing your complaint with an EEOC counselor is only 45 days.
