The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is an administrative agency with a field office located in Chicago.  The EEOC investigates and enforces certain discrimination claims that occur within the United States.

Specifically, the EEOC enforces a number of federal laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Equal Pay Act of 1963; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  In order to bring a federal law suit stating a claim under any of these laws, individuals must first file a charge of discrimination with the EEOC.  Typically, individuals have 300 days from the date of the unlawful activity in which to file a charge with the EEOC.

After filing a charge of discrimination at the EEOC, the case may proceed either to mediation or investigation.  Mediation is a process by which the employer and employee mutually agree to meet with a neutral mediator to resolve their employment issues.  If the case proceeds to investigation, the EEOC will have 180 days from the date of the filing of the charge to issue a determination on the matter.  The EEOC determination will find that there is either cause or no cause to believe that a violation of the applicable law has taken place.  Once the individual has obtained a Notice of Right to Sue following the EEOC investigation, he or she has 90 days to file suit in federal court. 

More information regarding the EEOC, including detailed information about the laws enforced by the EEOC and the procedure for filing a charge of discrimination, can be found at the EEOC’s website: www.eeoc.gov.

If you have questions about filing a charge or would like legal representation as you proceed with the EEOC, contact Caffarelli & Siegel Ltd. to speak to a Chicago Employment lawyer.