If an employee believes that he/she has been harassed
because of belonging to a protected category, he/she
has the full right to file a complaint with the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission. Harassment based
on sex or race violates Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act.
However, before filing a complaint with the EEOC,
the victim should ask the victimizing party to stop
the unlawful behavior immediately. If it continues,
the victim should approach a higher authority and
put forward the complaint to them. If the situation
persists with no change, the employee should file
a complaint with the EEOC.
Charges may be filed in person, by mail, or by telephone…by
contacting the nearest EEOC office (look in a telephone
directory under “Federal Government: Health
and Human Services, Dept. of”). In case an EEOC
office is not located nearby, the employee can call
toll-free 800-669-4000 or, if hearing- or speech-impaired,
800-669-6820 (TDD) for more information. To avoid
delay if you need special assistance (e.g., an interpreter)
in order to file a charge, call or write beforehand.
Time frame: Charges
must be filed with the EEOC within 180 days of the
alleged discriminatory act. However, in states or
localities where there is an anti-discrimination law
and an agency authorized to grant or seek relief,
a charge must be presented to that agency instead
of to the EEOC. Furthermore, in such jurisdictions,
you may file charges with the EEOC within 300 days
of the discriminatory act, or within 30 days after
receiving notice that the state or local agency has
terminated its processing of your charge—whichever
is earlier. It is best to contact the EEOC promptly
when discrimination is suspected. When charges
or complaints are filed beyond these time frames,
you may not be able to obtain any remedy.
