All but five states have an agency to investigate workplace harassment and discrimination complaints and enforce local harassment and discrimination laws. These state agencies are collectively referred to as Fair Employment Practices Agencies (FEPA).
You file a charge of discrimination with your state agency. If federal laws apply to your claim, in most states it will automatically be filed with the EEOC as well.
Know Important Numbers, Timelines, and Dates
If you are experiencing workplace harassment or discrimination, you will want to know important dates and details that can be relevant to filing a harassment or discrimination complaint. Even if you aren’t sure how you will work to resolve your complaint, or think you might never consider filing a complaint with your state or the EEOC, knowing this information is important. Your HR department and company lawyers know this information, you need to as well.
- Number of Employees: The number of employees your company employs is relevant if you decide to escalate your complaint to a federal or state agency. This number is set by the EEOC but can be less based on the laws of your state.
- Age Discrimination: The number of employees required for filing an age discrimination complaint may be different than other discrimination complaints
- Time: You have a limited amount of time to file a complaint with a state or federal agency from the time of the. The time allowed is set by the EEOC but can be more generous based on the laws of your state. Knowing these dates from the start may give you some leverage when seeking a satisfactory resolution with your company
- Important Dates: Access our List of Important Dates HERE
Knowledge is Power. Information is Liberating.
EEOC and State Agencies
While the EEOC is the federal agency that manages and investigates harassment and discrimination complaints (i.e., federal Title VII of the Civil Rights Act), each state is able to determine its own state laws as long as those laws fall within federal guidelines.
Some states have a more generous filing deadline. Some states allow claims against companies with fewer employees. Some states provide greater protections for protected classes. If you have exhausted all possible means to resolve the issue with your company and you have decided to file with your state/EEOC:
- Check your state requirements below. You can file your complaint (called An Administrative Charge) with the EEOC or your state agency (if they have one). Your state agency will cross-file your complaint with the EEOC if you meet the EEOC charge requirements.
- If you have an equal pay complaint, you can sue your company without filing an EEOC complaint. If you believe you were not paid fairly due to discrimination, you have two years to file a discrimination complaint with the EEOC. You can find more information about equal pay HERE.
Workplaces Not Covered by Title VII
Not everyone works for a company that is covered under Title VII. For those individuals, different laws must be followed when confronting harassment in the workplace:
- If you work for a company with fewer employees than is allowed by federal law, check with your state agency for other possible options
- If you are a federal employee, you are covered by the EEOC, but must follow a different process (see below)
- If you work for the military you must follow a different process (see below)
- You can also find a helpful summary of current workplace protections by state, as of August 2022 HERE.
Fair Employment Practices Agencies, by State
Alabama
State Agency: NONE / File complaints with the EEOC
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Alaska
State Agency: Alaska State Commission for Human Rights (ASCHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 2
age: 15
Days to file: 180 days
Arizona
State Agency: Arizona Civil Rights Division (ACRD)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 15
Days to file: 180 days
Arkansas
State Agency: NONE / File complaints with the EEOC
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
California
State Agency: California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 5
harassment: 1
age: 5
Days to file: 365 days
Colorado
State Agency: Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 5
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 6 months
Connecticut
State Agency: Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 3
age: 3
Days to file: 180 days
Delaware
State Agency: Delaware Department of Labor (DDOL)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 4
age: 20
Days to file: 300 days
Florida
State Agency: Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination 15
harassment: 15
age: 20
Days to file: 365 days
Georgia
State Agency: NONE / File complaints with the EEOC
Min # of employees:
discrimination 15
harassment: 15
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Hawaii
State Agency: Hawai’i Civil Rights Commission (HCRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Idaho
State Agency: Idaho Human Rights Commission (IHRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 5
age: 5
Days to file: 365 days
Illinois
State Agency: Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 300 days
Additional Filing Options: Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR)
Indiana
State Agency: Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 6
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Iowa
State Agency: Iowa Civil Rights Commission (ICRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 4
age: 4 non-family member employees
Days to file: 300 days
Kansas
State Agency: Kansas Human Rights Commission (KHRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 6
age: 6
Days to file: 6 months
Kentucky
State Agency: Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (KCHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 20*
harassment: 20*
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
* If your company employs 15-19 employees, file complaints with the EEOC
Louisiana
State Agency: Louisiana Commission on Human Rights (LCHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Maine
State Agency: Maine Human Rights Commission (MHRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 300 days
Maryland
State Agency: Maryland Commission on Human Relations (MCHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 20
Days to file: 6 months
Massachusetts
State Agency: Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 6
age: 6
Days to file: 300 days
Michigan
State Agency: Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Minnesotta
State Agency: Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 1 year
Mississippi
State Agency: NONE / File complaints with the EEOC
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Missouri
State Agency: Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 6
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Montana
State Agency: Human Rights Bureau (HRB)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Nebraska
State Agency: Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission (NEOC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 20
Days to file: 300 days
Nevada
State Agency: Nevada Equal Rights Commission (NERC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 15
Days to file: 300 days
New Hampshire
State Agency: New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights (NHCHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 16
harassment: 6
age: 6
Days to file: 180 days
New Jersey
State Agency: New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
New Mexico
State Agency: New Mexico Human Rights Bureau (HRB)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 4
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
New York
State Agency: New York Division of Human Rights (DHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 4
age: 4
Days to file: 1 year
North Carolina
State Agency: NONE / File complaints with the EEOC.
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
North Dakota
State Agency: North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights (HRD)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 300 days
Ohio
State Agency: Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 4
age: 4
Days to file: 6 months
Oklahoma
State Agency: Office of Civil Rights Enforcement (OCRE)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Oregon
State Agency: Bureau of Labor & Industries (BOLI)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 1 year
Pennsylvania
State Agency: Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 4
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Rhode Island
State Agency: Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights (RICHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 4
age: 4
Days to file: 1 year
South Carolina
State Agency: South Carolina Human Affairs Commission (SHAC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
South Dakota
State Agency: South Dakota Division of Human Rights (SDDHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Tennessee
State Agency: Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 8
age: 8
Days to file: 180 days
Texas
State Agency: Texas Workforce Commission — Civil Rights Division (TWC-CRD)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 15
Days to file: 180 days
Utah
State Agency: Utah Antidiscrimination and Labor Division (UALD)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 15
Days to file: 180 days
Vermont
State Agency: Vermont Human Rights Commission (VHRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 300 days
Virginia
State Agency: Division of Human Rights (DHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 6
age: 6
Days to file: 300 days
Washington
State Agency: Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 8
age: 8
Days to file: 6 months
Washington DC
Agency: Office of Human Rights (OHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 15
Days to file: 1 year
West Virginia
State Agency: West Virginia Human Rights Commission (WVHRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 12
age: 20
Days to file: 365 days
Wisconsin
State Agency: Wisconsin Equal Rights Division (WERD)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 300 days
Wyoming
State Agency: Wyoming Fair Employment Practices (WFEP)+
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 2
age: 20
Days to file: 6 months
Federal Employee
Agency: EEOC
Days to file: 45 Days
U.S. Military
Agency: Department of Defense
Hotline open M-F 8am-4pm EST: 800-424-9098
Email: [email protected]
Days to file: 45 days