Discrimination and Harassment at Your Job
If you are experiencing discrimination or harassment at your employer, first inform your manager or the human resources department. If neither help, use these government resources.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination.
Protections Included Under the Law
These laws protect employees and job applicants against:
Discrimination, harassment, and unfair treatment in the workplace by anyone because of:
Race
Color
Religion
Sex (including gender identity, transgender status, and sexual orientation)
Pregnancy
National origin
Age (40 or older)
Disability
Genetic information
Being denied reasonable workplace accommodations for a disability or religious beliefs
Retaliation because they:
Complained about job discrimination
Helped with an investigation or lawsuit
How to File an Employment Discrimination Complaint
To file a complaint, contact your EEOC field office.
Many state and local governments have anti-discrimination laws. These laws may offer extra protection beyond federal law.
Some state laws:
Apply to businesses with only five or six employees
Prohibit discrimination based on whether you're married or have children
Have different deadlines for filing a charge
Have different standards for deciding whether you're covered
Many state laws have more protections for nursing mothers than federal law requires. State labor offices enforce these laws.
Filing a Lawsuit
If you're a victim of job discrimination or harassment, you can file a lawsuit. If the discrimination violates federal law, you must first file a charge with the EEOC. (This does not apply to cases of unequal pay between men and women.)
You may decide to sue if the EEOC cannot help you. In either case, look for an attorney who specializes in employment law. You can check with:
Not All Employers Are Subject to EEOC Laws
Only employers with a certain number of employees are subject to EEOC laws. The number of employees changes depending on the type of employer and the kind of discrimination alleged.
Businesses, state, and local governments must follow most EEOC laws if they have 15 or more employees.
Federal agencies must follow all EEOC laws, no matter how many employees they have.
Laws that the EEOC Enforces
Federal employment discrimination laws include:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – which prohibits discrimination against workers with disabilities and mandates reasonable accommodations
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) – which prohibits discrimination based on:
Race
Color
Religion
National origin
Sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity)
The Equal Pay Act (EPA) – which requires equal pay for equal work by men and women
What is Harassment?
Harassment is unwelcome conduct because of your:
Race
Color
Religion
Sex
National origin
Age
Pregnancy
Disability
Genetic information
The federal government only enforces harassment due to one of these reasons. If you experience workplace harassment for another reason, contact your state's labor department or seek help from a legal professional.
Harassment can include:
Offensive jokes
Physical assaults or threats
Ridicule or insults
Display of offensive objects or pictures
Sexual harassment may include:
Unwelcome sexual advances
Requests for sexual favors
Other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature
Offensive remarks about a person's sex
Harassment becomes illegal when:
It creates a hostile or abusive work environment.
The victim gets fired or demoted for refusing to put up with it.
Protection from Retaliation
EEOC laws protect employees and job applicants from retaliation. For example, it’s unlawful to punish people for:
Filing or being a witness in an EEO charge or investigation
Talking to a supervisor or manager about discrimination or harassment
Refusing to follow orders that would result in discrimination
Resisting sexual advances or intervening to protect others
