Filing a Discrimination or Harassment Claim
If you feel that you have been discriminated against by your employer, then you should immediately file a complaint with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ( EEOC). If you don’t want to reveal your identity, then another company can also file the complaint in your behalf.
Time: As per law, the complaint should be filed within 180 days from the date of the incident. However, you shouldn’t wait for that long. Gather all the evidence as quickly as possible. If you file the complaint early, then chances of success are also pretty high.
How to File: For filing the complaint, you have to get in touch with EEOC. The best option will be to directly visit their office and file the complaint in person. If that is not possible, you can mail them. You can also call their helpline numbers.
Information: While filing the complaint, you will be asked about your basic details like name and phone number. You may also be asked about the name of your employer and their address. You have to describe in details the complete incident and also the exact date of the incident.
After the complaint: After you have launched the complaint, the EEOC will look into the matter. If your case is serious, then they will try to resolve it immediately. During the investigation, they may visit your workplace and conduct several interviews. If they find out that you have been indeed discriminated against, then you can expect to be compensated. Compensation can be of various kinds. You may be promoted or you may get paid. However, if EEOC fails to solve your case, then you are eligible to sue your employer within the next 90 days. In that case, it will be better, if you hire an experienced lawyer who deals in such kinds of cases.
You should also keep the following things in mind:
1. Before filing the complaint, once go through the anti-discrimination policy of your organization. If your organization has an internal committee to deal with such kinds of cases, then file a complaint with them as well.
2. Throughout the investigation, cooperate with them as much as possible. Give them all the details which you have. It will improve your chances of winning the case.
3. Do not be scared to file the complaint. As per law, your employer can’t retaliate against you or create a negative work environment after the complaint has been filed.
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