EEOC Paper

The EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) is a government agency that is dedicated to protecting Americans rights to be employed and treated equally while disabled, pregnant, and of any ethnicity or gender. The EEOC receives complaints from employees across the nation that feel they have been wronged by their employer. The EEOC steps in and investigates all of the alleged accusations. This paper will cover the general summary of how the EEOC works.

The EEOC has 53 field offices across the nation but is based out of Washington D.C. The EEOC’s primary function is to protect Americans from employment discrimination. This pertains to the federal laws that make it illegal for to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information (EEOC, N.D.). The EEOC has the authority to investigate any employers who are covered by the law, which is 15 or more employees in most cases. The EEOC’s role in an investigation is to fairly and accurately assess the allegations in the charge and then make a finding. If they find that discrimination has occurred, they will try to settle the charge. If they aren’t successful, they have the authority to file a lawsuit to protect the rights of individuals and the interests of the public (EEOC, N.D.). When deciding to file a lawsuit, the EEOC considers several factors such as the strength of the evidence, the issues in the case, and the wider impact the lawsuit could have on the EEOC’s efforts to combat workplace discrimination (EEOC, N.D.). The EEOC works to protect Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. As most know, all employees of organizations across the U.S. are required to be treated fair and equal despite any differences. It is the EEOC’s responsibility to ensure that organizations are aware and in compliance with these laws. There are notices with contact information, training material, and informal talks that should be provided to employers, so they have the tools to keep their employees informed of their rights.

References:

EEOC (N.D.) U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Overview. Retrieved from: https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/