EEOC
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is the federal agency that enforces the laws prohibiting employment discrimination and investigates charges filed against employers.
The Commission also issues guidance and may sue on a charging party’s behalf. Its reach covers hiring, pay, promotion, training, discipline, and termination. A charge of discrimination is an administrative complaint filed with the Commission or a partner state agency. The filing deadline is generally 180 days from the alleged act, and longer where a state or local fair employment agency exists. Once a charge is pending, preservation obligations tighten, so your records need a legal hold instead of automatic deletion on a timer.
Which laws does the EEOC enforce?
The EEOC enforces federal laws including Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). The PWFA requires you to reasonably accommodate a qualified employee’s or applicant’s known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, absent undue hardship. Coverage thresholds differ by statute, so a small employer can be outside one law and inside another in the same year. State statutes frequently apply at lower headcountsHeadcount. Headcount is the number of people you employ at a point in time, with each employee counted once whatever hours they work.Click to open the term. Verify the current thresholds and any state fair-employment law with the EEOC, the state agency, or employment counsel.
| LAW | GENERALLY REACHES |
|---|---|
| Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (race, color, religion, sex, national origin) | Employers with 15 or more employees |
| Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA (disability) | Employers with 15 or more employees |
| Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (pregnancy-related limitations) | Employers with 15 or more employees |
| Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act | Employers with 15 or more employees |
| Age Discrimination in Employment Act, or ADEA (age 40 and older) | Employers with 20 or more employees |
| Equal Pay Act | Employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act |
General information, not legal or tax advice. Apply current federal and state rules with qualified guidance.