Helping Victims of Discrimination with the EEOC Complaint Process in the St. Louis Area and Throughout Missouri and Illinois
Employees who suffer illegal discrimination or harassment in the workplace have the legal right to file a lawsuit against their employer to seek compensation for their losses. However, in most cases, before you can earn the right to file a lawsuit, you must first file a complaint called a Charge of Discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC is the federal agency in the United States that enacts and enforces laws protecting employees from unlawful discrimination at work.
The EEOC handles complaints against private employers, state or local government agencies, and even against the federal government. The time limit you have to file a complaint will vary depending on the nature of your employer – for example, federal employees have a much shorter time than workers in the private sector. Time is an important factor in every type of EEOC case, so you always want to contact an experienced St. Louis EEOC claims lawyer for help as soon as possible after discrimination or harassment occurs.
Do You have an EEOC Complaint?
The EEOC enforces a variety of laws that prohibit the following unlawful actions at work:
- Discrimination
- Harassment
- Hostile work environment
- Retaliation
- Wrongful termination
The above actions are unlawful if they are based on specific factors set out in federal employment laws, including the following:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) – Prohibits discrimination in all employment actions based on race, color, national origin, religion, and sex.
- Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 (PDA) – Includes pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical issues under unlawful sex discrimination.
- Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA) – Prohibits discriminating against members of a certain sex specifically when it comes to pay.
- Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) – Prohibits discrimination against individuals with actual or perceived physical or mental disabilities and requires reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities.
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) – Protects employees over the age of 40 from discrimination based on their age.
The Complaint Process can be Complex
Determining what type of complaint you have is only the first step in the complex process of filing an EEOC claim. The EEOC will closely investigate your claim to determine whether you have a viable case, so you want to provide all of the necessary information to support your claims to avoid any delays or unfavorable rulings. Having a skilled EEOC claims lawyer assisting you can help to ensure your complaint is as thorough as necessary to prove your claim.
In addition, if the EEOC issues you a Right to Sue notice, you will want an attorney representing you throughout the lawsuit process, which can be stressful and adversarial, especially in employment claims.
Call a Missouri and Illinois EEOC Claims Lawyer Today
At the law firm of Kilo Flynn, our attorneys have successfully helped many clients through the EEOC claims process and we are here to help you. We handle cases throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area and in the Missouri counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln, Jefferson, Franklin and Crawford, and the Illinois counties of Madison, St. Clair and Monroe. Call us today at 314-647-8910 for more information about how we can help you.