The Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is an agency of the federal government responsible for enforcement of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and amendments. The law prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, and religion. In addition, it is illegal to discriminate against a person that complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit.
Consider these tips if processing a claim with the EEOC:
- Stay vigilant. Monitor the process and stay on top of your submission. Check periodically with the EEOC to find out what is happening with your case.
- Be assertive. If some EEOC action, or inaction, is causing you serious problems, bring it to the attention of the people handling your case.
- Read and reread the fine print. When you file a charge with the EEOC, a worker there will ask you to read and sign a written statement summarizing your claim. Be sure to scrutinize the form carefully before signing. If the document is not accurate, ask for corrections before signing.
- Keep your options open. Filing a claim with the EEOC does not prevent you from taking other action to deal with your case. You still have a right to try to solve the problem on your own or use a company complaint procedure. You also have the right to hire an attorney to file a lawsuit, if that is appropriate for your situation.
If you have a question or concern about what the EEOC does or other EEO/Diversity/HR topics, contact PREEMPT today.