What happens when the EEOC takes your case?

Once the investigator has completed the investigation, EEOC will make a determination on the merits of the charge. If EEOC is unable to conclude that there is reasonable cause to believe that discrimination occurred, the charging party will be issued a notice called a Dismissal and Notice of Rights.

Will the EEOC sue on my behalf?

While the EEOC can and does occasionally file lawsuits on behalf of employees to enforce the various federal anti-discrimination laws, I would not recommend holding your breath. In 2017, the EEOC filed a total of only 201 lawsuits on behalf of employees across the entire United States.

Can I be fired for filing a complaint with the EEOC?

Employees who — for example — file EEOC charges while they are still employed often seem to think they have a “shield of invulnerability” from any further discipline or other adverse action. All it means is that the employee can’t be fired for filing the charge.

What is the EEOC and how does it operate?

The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints in the workplace based on an individual’s race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information and retaliation for reporting or opposing a discriminatory practice. The EEOC mediates thousands of discrimination complaints each year prior to investigation.

What happens if an employer lies to EEOC?

If the EEOC discovers that an employer or a charging party has lied during the course of an investigation, that fact may influence the investigation’s outcome. It may also affect the outcome of litigation or may be used at trial to discredit a witness.

What every worker should know about the EEOC?

The EEOC also enforces the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA), which protects men and women who perform substantially equal work in the same establishment from sex-based wage discrimination. Employers are prohibited from offering a lower wage to women (or men) if another man (or woman) is doing the same work at a higher wage.

What does EEOC stand for in employment?

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is the agency responsible for enforcing federal laws regarding discrimination or harassment against a job applicant or an employee in the United States.