How Employees and Job Applicants Can Use eeoc.gov to File an Employment Discrimination Charge

You can start a discrimination charge through the EEOC website by going to the "Employees & Applicants" section and selecting "How to file a charge of employment discrimination." That page is the official starting point for workers and job seekers. From there you can also find your nearest EEOC office and read about your rights and responsibilities under equal employment opportunity law. The site is a federal government resource, so it is free to use and does not require a paid account to access the information.

What the EEOC website is for

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is the federal agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. Its site, eeoc.gov, serves two main audiences:

• Employees and applicants — people who believe they were treated unfairly at work or during hiring.
• Employers and federal agencies — organizations that need to follow EEO rules.

For an individual worker, the most useful parts are the filing path, the office locator, and the plain-language explanations of your rights.

Step-by-step: filing a charge

1. Go to the "Employees & Applicants" area. The homepage groups resources by audience. Choose the employee/applicant option.
2. Select "How to file a charge of employment discrimination." This is the entry point for starting a charge. Read the page carefully before you act.
3. Find an EEOC office. Use the "Find an EEOC office" link to locate the office that covers where you work or where the discrimination happened.
4. Review your rights and responsibilities. The site explains what EEO law covers so you can judge whether your situation fits.
5. Follow the filing instructions on the charge page. The page tells you what information to prepare and how the process works.

Expected result: You end up with a clear understanding of whether you have a charge to file, which office handles it, and what the next step is.

What you can check before filing

The site also has a dedicated page on DEI-related discrimination, which covers employment actions motivated in whole or in part by race, sex, or another protected characteristic. If your concern relates to a diversity, equity, and inclusion program, that page is worth reading first.

Common sticking points

• Deadlines matter. Discrimination charges generally have a time limit. Check the filing page for the current rule rather than assuming you can file anytime.
• Pick the right office. A charge goes to the office covering your workplace, not necessarily the one closest to your home.
• Federal employees follow a different path. If you work for a federal agency, the site directs you to file a complaint against the agency instead of a standard charge, and you can request a hearing or an appeal through separate links.
• The site explains, it does not decide for you. It gives you the process and the rules; whether you have a valid claim depends on your facts.

If you are an employer or small business

The same site has a parallel section for employers and small businesses: help and resources, training and technical assistance, EEO surveys, and downloadable publications. Use it to understand your obligations rather than to file a charge.

Bottom line

For an employee or job applicant, eeoc.gov is the official, no-cost place to learn your rights, find your local office, and begin the charge-filing process. Start with "How to file a charge of employment discrimination," confirm your deadline, and locate the office that covers your workplace before you submit anything.