Federal and state laws protect you from unfair and unwelcome treatment at work. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and states enforce discrimination and harassment laws.
EEOC laws don’t cover all employers. Coverage is often based on the number of employees. Verify if your employer is required to follow the EEOC's rules.
Discrimination is when an employer treats an employee or job applicant unfairly because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information.
Ensure that you meet the time limits for reporting discrimination. In most cases, you must file a charge within 180 calendar days.
States and local governments also have anti-discrimination laws. Report discrimination to a local Fair Employment Practices Agency (FEPA). If the discrimination breaks both a state and federal law, the FEPA will also send your complaint to the EEOC.
Federal employees and job applicants report discrimination to the equal employment office (EEO) at the agency where it happened. Follow the EEO’s complaint process within 45 calendar days.
You can sue an employer for discrimination. If the lawsuit is based on a federal law, you must file a complaint with the EEOC first.
Workplace harassment is unwelcome conduct based on a person’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, older age, disability, or genetic information.
Harassment is unlawful when:
Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors. It can also include offensive comments about someone’s sex.
Sexual harassment is unlawful when:
Retaliation happens when an employer treats someone poorly because they engaged in a protected activity. Protected activities include:
Common retaliation methods include: