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If you have experienced discrimination or harassment in the workplace in Maryland, filing a complaint (or “charge”) with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) may be the first step in the process of asserting your legal rights. While you can file a charge with the EEOC on your own, you can also hire a Maryland employment lawyer to represent you—and there are several important reasons to strongly consider getting an experienced lawyer on your side.
When Can (and Should) You File an EEOC Complaint in Maryland?
Before we talk about the process of filing a charge with the EEOC, we’ll first talk about when you can (and should) contact the EEOC. The EEOC handles employment discrimination and harassment complaints under federal law. This includes complaints involving violations of:
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Rehabilitation Act
- Equal Pay Act (EPA)
- Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)
- Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA)
- Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII)
State laws prohibit discrimination and harassment in the workplace as well. If you have a claim under state law, you will need to file your complaint with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR) instead of the EEOC. Determining where you need to file your complaint is one of the first ways an experienced Maryland employment lawyer will be able to help you.
The federal laws listed above prohibit many forms of discrimination in the workplace. This includes discriminatory hiring and termination, discriminatory compensation practices, discriminatory job assignments, and sexual harassment (which is considered a form of sex discrimination under Title VII), among others. These laws also cover discrimination based on a wide range of protected characteristics, including age, disability, ethnicity, gender, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation, among others.
Initiating the EEOC Complaint Process in Cases of Employment Discrimination and Harassment
If you have grounds to file a complaint with the EEOC, the steps you need to take depend on whether you work in the private sector or you work for the federal government. If you are (or were) a federal employee, you can learn about the process for asserting your legal rights here.
If you work in the private sector, you can file your discrimination or harassment charge through the EEOC Public Portal. Before you file your charge, however, you may need to submit an online inquiry and complete an interview with the EEOC (or visit your local EEOC field office). Since each of these steps plays an important role in the process of asserting your legal rights, we strongly recommend hiring an experienced Maryland employment lawyer to represent you at this stage of the process.
Once you file your charge with the EEOC, you will need to successfully navigate the rest of the EEOC’s complaint process. This will include presenting evidence in support of your allegations, responding to your employer’s evidence, and potentially negotiating a settlement that resolves your complaint. However, a settlement is not guaranteed, and if your employer disputes your allegations, you may ultimately need to take your discrimination or harassment complaint to court.
Protecting Your Legal Rights During (and After) the EEOC Complaint Process
Protecting your legal rights as a victim of discrimination or harassment in the workplace is a complex process. While there are steps that the EEOC can take to help make sure you receive a fair outcome, it is ultimately up to you to make sure you are asserting your legal rights effectively. With this in mind, here are some important tips for protecting your legal rights during (and after) the EEOC complaint process:
- Take Action Promptly – If you are a victim of discrimination or harassment in the workplace, you only have a limited amount of time to assert your legal rights. With this in mind, you should take action promptly.
- Make Sure You Have a Clear Understanding of Your Legal Rights – Making sure you have a clear understanding of your legal rights is critical for ensuring that you make informed decisions throughout the process. An experienced Maryland employment lawyer can help.
- Be Prepared to Take All Necessary Steps – While many successful discrimination and harassment complaints get resolved through the EEOC complaint process, some employees will need to take additional steps to enforce their legal rights. Before you take legal action, you should make sure you are prepared to do what is necessary to achieve the outcome you deserve.
Schedule a Confidential Consultation About Your EEOC Complaint with an Experienced Maryland Employment Lawyer Today
Do you need to know more about filing an EEOC complaint for discrimination or harassment in the workplace? If so, we can help. To schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced Maryland employment lawyer at the Law Firm of J.W. Stafford, please call 410-514-6099 or request an appointment online today.