Content Overview
- Summary
- How To Determine What Agency To Use To File A Discrimination Claim
- Deadline For Filing A Charge of Discrimination
- How To Protect Your Identity When Filing a Charge of Discrimination
- What Happens After A Discrimination Complaint Is Filed With A Government Agency?
- What If My Claim Is Against A State Or Local Government?
- When Can I Start An Employment Discrimination Lawsuit In Court?
- What Remedies Are Available When Discrimination Is Found?
Enforcement Of Workplace Discrimination Laws
How To Determine What Agency To Use To File A Discrimination Claim
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As a general matter, a discrimination claim has to be filed with a governmental agency before you can sue in court.
The laws and the agencies that enforce them are:
- The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA): Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). To contact the EEOC, look in your telephone directory under "U.S. Government." For information and instructions on reaching your local office, call: 800.669-4000
- The federal Rehabilitation Act: Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). Don't be surprised if the OFCCP gives the case to the EEOC to investigate. The two agencies are that cooperative. You can call OFCCP’s toll free at 1-800-397-6251
- State laws: To find the appropriate agency in your state, go to the web site of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies, search by a map or list of members. The list of members is located at: http://www.iaohra.org/New/members.htm .
Which agency or agencies to file with:
- If you have a claim which could be subject to The Rehabilitation Act as well as others, at least file a claim with OFCCP. All the agencies do the same type of investigation and discussion with an employer to try to resolve a situation. However, the OFCCP has the additional teeth of being able to bar a company from federal contracts.
- Speak with your local disease specific non-profit organization, a social worker or an attorney who specializes in job discrimination. They may have an idea of which agency is better for your particular situation -- particularly whether the interpretation of the law on a federal or state level is more favorable to you, and which one has remedies available that you want.. They will also know which agency is currently handling complaints more quickly.
- If you have a choice as to which agency to file your complaint with, consider filing with all of them. They will coordinate with each other. The federal agencies use the same standards for disability as the EEOC as much as possible. One agency will take the lead and the others will put a "stay" on your complaint while the lead agency proceeds. You can always discontinue a complaint with one of the agencies.
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