For What Kind of Discrimination Does the EEOC Handle Complaints?

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For What Kind of Discrimination Does the EEOC Handle Complaints?

The EEOC, or the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, is a federal body approved by the U.S government to fight various forms of discrimination in the workplace and address cases of discrimination made against those seeking jobs. But for what specific kinds of discrimination does the EEOC handle complaints? The types of discriminations which you should report to the EEOC are those that target your:

  • Race
  • Skin color
  • Religion
  • Age
  • Country of origin
  • Sex and sexual orientation
  • Disability
  • Pregnancy or conditions caused by pregnancy or childbirth
  • Other protected classes

The Discrimination Complaint Process

The EEOC has a strict procedure for dealing with discrimination complaints. The first step one would take will be to file a Charge of Discrimination. The tables below will go over the process private sector and federal sector complainants usually go through.

Private Sector Discrimination Complaint Process

Time Frame ProcedureNote
1-180 days
  • File your charge through any of the channels provided by the EEOC
Remember to always report to HR before reporting to the EEOC
1 - 10 days after filing
  • Your complaint will be delivered to your employer
  • The EEOC will begin steps to mediate between you and your employer
  • The case ends if you and your employer settle through a mediator
Mediation can take up to three months
1- 180 days after filing
  • If mediation fails, the case will enter into the investigation phase and your employer is required to officially respond to your charge
  • The EEOC can subpoena your employer if they fail to cooperate with the investigation
Investigation can take up to 10 months
After 180 days of filing This depends on your type of discrimination case and if it was filed under Title VII

Federal Sector Discrimination Complaint Process

Time FrameProcedureNote
1- 45 days
  • You should first contact your local counselor assigned to your workplace and inform them of the discriminatory incident
  • If ADR fails, your EEO counselor will permit you to officially file a complaint at the federal agency’s EEO office
1-15 days after a failed Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
  • You should file your complaint within this time limit
Late filing is one of the common grounds for case dismissal
1-180 days after filing
  • The EEOC commences the investigation
  • At the end of the investigation, you can either let the EEOC pronounce a decision on your complaint or opt for a hearing before an EEOC administrative judge
1 - 30 days after the conclusion of the investigation
1 - 40 days after a public hearing
  • The EEOC will decide if they adopt the judge’s decision or take a different stand as their final verdict
1- 30 days after EEOC’s final verdict
  • If you or your employer disagrees with the decision of the EEOC, an appeal can be filed during this period
1 - 30 days after appeal verdict
  • You can also apply for reconsideration of the appeal decision
  • The outcome of this reconsideration is final and cannot be appealed further
You can do this only if you can prove that the decision was given in error

Channels for Filing Discrimination Complaint

The table below outlines four channels for you to file a discrimination complaint with the EEOC:

ChannelDetails
EEOC BranchesYou have to walk into any of the 53 EEOC branches to file your complaint on a pre-scheduled appointment day.
TelephoneYou will have to make use of any of the dedicated hotlines below to call in to lay and your discriminatory complaints:
  • 1-800-669-4000
  • 1-800-669-6820 (for people with hearing disabilities)
  • 1-800-234-5122 (videophone for sign language)
MailYou can draft a letter or file a complaint form with the details of your:
  1. Name
  2. Email
  3. Phone number
  4. Contact address
  5. Contact details of the employer
  6. Name and contacts of witnesses
  7. A narration of the event that took place and what type of discrimination it falls under
  8. Your signature

Start the mail-in process here.

Local Employee Protection AgencyYou can visit a Fair Employment Practices Agencies (FEPA) office to file your complaints. They work with the EEOC and share reports on all claims.

File Anonymous HR Complaints with DoNotPay Today

Make sure you have exhausted all of your options before resorting to the EEOC. Determine whether your discrimination complaint can be resolved internally with Human Resources. With DoNotPay, you can address various workplace issues like a bad boss, workplace discrimination and harassment, difficult managers and coworkers, and other HR complaints. Here’s how you can file a complaint and protect your rights at work:

1. Log in to and open the Anonymous HR Complaints product.

2. Enter your employer’s name and your HR department’s address.

3. Explain what incident you’re reporting and how you want it resolved.

Let DoNotPay automatically mail your report to HR without including any of your personal information!

Other Services Offered by DoNotPay

Apart from HR complaints, offers more services that can help with your day-to-day life! Here are a few of them:

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