Discrimination and Harassment at Your Job
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. These laws protect employees and job applicants against:
Discrimination, harassment, and unfair treatment in the workplace by anyone because of:
Being denied reasonable workplace accommodations for disability or religious beliefs
Retaliation because they:
Not All Employers Are Subject to EEOC Laws
An employer must have a certain number of employees to be covered by EEOC-enforced laws. This number varies based on the type of employer and the kind of discrimination alleged.
Businesses, state, and local governments must follow most EEOC laws if they have 15 or more employees.
Federal agencies must follow all EEOC laws, no matter how many employees they have.
Filing a Charge with the EEOC
If you are being harassed or discriminated against, you can file a charge with the EEOC. In most cases, you must file within 180 days of the event. You can:
Federal employees and job applicants have different complaint procedures.
Filing a Complaint with State or Local Government or Tribal Employment Rights Office
Many state and local governments have their own anti-discrimination laws. These laws may offer extra protections beyond federal laws.
Some state laws:
Apply to businesses with only five or six employees
Prohibit discrimination based on whether you're married or have children
Have different deadlines for filing a charge
Have different standards for deciding whether you’re covered by them
To file a complaint, find your state, local. or tribal employment rights office:
Many state laws have more protections for nursing mothers than federal law requires. State labor offices enforce these laws.
Filing a Lawsuit
If you're a victim of job discrimination or harassment, you can file a lawsuit. If the discrimination violates federal law, you must first file a charge with the EEOC. (This doesn't apply to cases of unequal pay between men and women.)
You may decide to sue if the EEOC can’t help you. In either case, look for an attorney who specializes in employment law. You can check with:
Laws that the EEOC Enforces
Federal employment discrimination laws include:
Harassment
Harassment is unwelcome conduct based on:
Race
Color
Religion
Sex
National origin
Age
Pregnancy
Disability
Genetic information
It can include:
Sexual harassment may include:
Unwelcome sexual advances
Requests for sexual favors
Other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature
Offensive remarks about a person's sex
Harassment becomes illegal when:
Protection from Retaliation
EEOC laws protect employees and job applicants from retaliation. For example, it’s unlawful to punish people for:
Employment Background Checks
Local, state, or federal government agencies and private employers may perform background checks when they hire an employee.
The FBI has contact information for the state agencies that conduct background checks.
Request a Copy of a Federal Background Check or an Identification Record
The FBI website has information on how to request a federal background check or an identification record request.
Following the information on how to request a federal background check, you'll find information on how to challenge inaccurate or incomplete information that appears on your record.
Arrest Records
If you are looking for information on arrest records, contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal labor law that allows an eligible employee to take an extended leave of absence from work due to:
- Illness
- Caring for a qualifying sick family member
- The birth or adoption of a child
- Military caregiving or other emergencies related to a family member's active duty service
This unpaid leave is guaranteed by law and is available to workers at companies with 50 or more employees. FMLA fact sheets can help you understand your rights and coverage.
Questions or Reporting a Violation of the FMLA
If you have unanswered questions about the FMLA or you believe someone has violated your rights under FMLA, contact the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division for assistance.
Employer Information
Employers with FMLA eligible employees have specific rights and responsibilities under the law. Learn how different types of employers may be covered by the FMLA.
If you are an employer with concerns about false FMLA leave, contact the Wage and Hour Division with any questions about FMLA compliance and seek the advice of your company's legal and human resources departments.
A labor union or trade union is an organization of workers which bargains with employers on behalf of union members and negotiates labor contracts. Elected union leaders negotiate specific items of employment including:
- Pay and benefits
- Complaint procedures
- Hiring and firing guidelines
- Help with unfair labor practices
Agreements union leaders negotiate are binding on the union members, the employer, and in some cases, on other non-union workers. Labor unions can be found in the private sector, federal agencies or at a state or local government place of employment.
Private Sector (Non-Government) Employees
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is an independent federal agency which has oversight to protect the rights of most private-sector (non-government) employees to organize and to determine whether to have unions as their bargaining representative.
- If you and your co-workers want to start a union or join or end your representation in an existing one, file a petition form. Your petition must show the support of at least 30 percent of your fellow employees.
- If you have a complaint about a union, contact your nearest NLRB regional office.
- The NLRB does not handle complaints or inquiries about certain forms of employment discrimination such as race, sex, issues regarding workplace safety, entitlement to overtime pay, or family and medical leave. Federal and state laws and agencies regulate those forms of employment discrimination. Visit the related agencies section of the NLRB website to see which agency can help with your specific complaint.
Federal and State Government Employees
- If you are a federal employee and have a question or complaint about federal unions, contact the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), an independent federal agency responsible for the labor-management relations program. It establishes policies and resolves disputes for most federal employees and their managers.
- If you and your fellow employees want to be represented by a union, contact an FLRA regional office to see if one already exists at your agency. If one does not exist and you are interested in representation, file a petition form with your closest FLRA regional office.
- If you are a state or local government employee and have a question about unions, contact the information officer of the NLRB regional office closest to your job.
Minimum Wage, Overtime, and Misclassification
The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) administers and enforces some of the nation's most comprehensive labor laws, including:
Minimum Wage
Overtime Pay
An employer may require or permit a worker to work overtime. The Fair Labor Standards Act requires that workers who clock more than 40 hours per week receive overtime pay with few exceptions.
Misclassification
Misclassification is when an employer declares that a worker is an independent contractor instead of an employee, even if that worker should be classified as an employee under the law. This can affect a worker’s pay, protections, and benefits as well as cause tax problems for both businesses and workers.
Labor laws vary by state. Contact the state government for information about specific laws where you work.
Unsafe Workplace Complaints and Conditions
Several different federal government agencies handle questions or complaints about workplace issues, depending on the nature of the issue:
Workers’ Rights
As an employed worker, you’re entitled to certain rights in the workplace - especially ones that keep you safe. These include the right to:
- Be trained in a language that you understand
- Be provided with the necessary safety equipment
- Report injury or illness
- Voice your concern over unsafe working conditions without fear of retaliation
In order to improve safety in the workplace, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) updated its existing rules regarding how employers must report injury or illness in the workplace.
As of January 1, 2017, certain employers are required to electronically submit injury or illness data. Doing this allows OSHA to improve enforcement of workplace safety requirements and provide valuable information online for workers, job seekers, customers, and the general public. The new rule also prohibits employers from discouraging their workers from reporting an injury or illness.
Workers' compensation laws protect employees who get hurt on the job or sick from it. The laws establish workers’ comp, a form of insurance that employers pay for. These laws vary from state to state and for federal employees. In general, workers’ comp provides:
Coverage for workers’ medical expenses
Compensation for lost wages while a worker is out recovering
Benefits for dependents of workers who died from job-related hazards
Private Sector and State or Local Government Employees
If you get hurt working for a private company or state or local government, seek help through your state. Your state workers' compensation program can help you file a claim. If your claim is denied, you can appeal.
Longshoremen, Harbor Workers, Coal Miners, and Federal Employees
Federal laws protect longshoremen, harbor workers, coal miners, and federal employees. Contact the workers' compensation program that applies to you for help filing a claim.
Wrongful Discharge/Termination of Employment
If you feel that you have been wrongfully fired from a job or let go from an employment situation, you may wish to learn more about your state's wrongful discharge laws.
- Wrongful termination or wrongful discharge laws vary from state to state.
- Some states are "employment-at-will" states, which means that if there is no employment contract (or collective bargaining agreement), an employer can let an employee go for any reason, or no reason, with or without notice, as long as the discharge does not violate a law.
If you feel you have been wrongfully discharged or terminated from employment, you may:
Employers
If you are an employer seeking information about legal termination of employees, you may wish to contact both the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and your State Labor Office to ensure you do not violate any federal or state labor laws. You may wish to consult with a licensed attorney.
Types of Work, Hours, and Pay
If you are under 18 and want to get a job it is important to know what rights and restrictions you have as a worker. Youth labor laws are designed to protect you from unsafe and inappropriate work experiences and to make sure that your job doesn’t interfere with your schooling. These laws establish:
- What types of work you’re allowed to do
- When you’re allowed to work
- How many hours per week you’re allowed to work
- How much you should be paid
The Department of Labor’s Youth Rules website helps you:
- Know the Rules: Select your age and learn what work you’re allowed to do and when you’re allowed to work.
- Find Support: Learn about other agencies that can help you and learn how to file a complaint.
It also helps employers, parents and educators stay informed.
Youth Rules also has a Law Library, which includes both federal and state laws. The rules for young employees are different depending on your age and the state you live in. When federal and state rules are different, the rules that provide the most protection apply.
Safety and Health
Employers must follow all Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) standards to keep you from being injured at work. In addition to following the federal and state rules on youth labor, employers must:
- Provide a hazard-free workplace
- Provide training on potential workplace hazards
- Provide you with resources to answer your questions on safety or health in the workplace
- Tell you what to do if you get hurt on the job
OSHA provides resources for young workers, including information on how to protect yourself in restaurant, agricultural, construction, and landscaping jobs.
You can find statistics and other details on job-related hazards and injuries at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Young Worker site.
Equal Employment Opportunities
Youth@Work, a division of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), will help you:
- Learn your rights as a young worker
- Identify workplace discrimination
- Learn what laws are enforced by the EEOC
- File a complaint if you suspect workplace discrimination
Do you need help?
Ask us any question about the U.S. government for free.
We'll get you the answer or tell you where to find it.
Last Updated: March 29, 2019