What Exactly Is the EEOC?

The EEOC stands for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It is a governmental organization charged with enforcing federal laws in the face of any kind of employment discrimination. Employment discrimination can occur on the basis of age, sex, color, race, disability, religion, national origin, and genetic information.

When people believe they have been discriminated against on the basis of one of the above factors, they can file complaints with the EEOC. These complaints can be about a labor union, government, employment agency, or private employer. The EEOC then reviews the claims.

You do not have to pay a fee to file a complaint with the EEOC. Once your claim has been received and reviewed, the EEOC determines whether cause exists to move your claim forward. The EEOC will first try to reach a settlement with your employer. If a settlement cannot be reached, the EEOC may choose to file a lawsuit.

While any kind of activity is pending with the EEOC, the organization cannot comment. As EEOC spokeswoman, Kimberly Smith-Brown explained: “We are prohibited from commenting on them, furnishing any information on them, or even confirming or denying the existence of such a charge. Only when and if we file suit—usually a last resort after other outcomes are attempted—are we allowed to furnish any information.”