Disability Lawyers: Equal Opportunity Employment Commission - EEOC Regulations

The EEOC was established by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and began operating on July 2, 1965. The EEOC enforces the following federal statutes:

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act ( ADEA ) of 1967, as amended, prohibiting employment discrimination against individuals 40 years of age and older
The Equal Pay Act ( EPA ) of 1963 prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender in compensation for substantially similar work under similar conditions
Title I and Title V of the Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ) of 1990, prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of disability in the private sector and state and local governments
Section 501 and 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, prohibiting employment discrimination against federal employees with disabilities
The Civil Rights Act of 1991 providing monetary damages in cases of intentional discrimination and clarifying provisions regarding disparate impact actions

With its headquarters in Washington, D.C., and through the operations of 50 field offices nationwide, the EEOC coordinates all federal equal employment opportunity regulations, practices, and policies. The Commission interprets employment discrimination laws, monitors the federal sector employment discrimination program, provides funding and support to state and local Fair Employment Practices Agencies ( FEPAs ), and sponsors outreach and technical assistance programs.

Any individual who believes he or she has been discriminated against in employment may file an administrative charge with the EEOC. After investigating the charge, the EEOC determines if there is "reasonable cause" to believe discrimination has occurred. If "reasonable cause" is found, the EEOC attempts to conciliate the charge by reaching a voluntary resolution between the charging party and the respondent. If conciliation is not successful, the Commission may bring suit in federal court. As part of the administrative process, the EEOC may also issue a Right-to-Sue-Notice to the charging party, allowing the charging party to file an individual action in court without the Agency's involvement.

The EEOC was established by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and began operating on July 2, 1965. The EEOC enforces the following federal statutes: