Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Practical Law Glossary Item 4-501-5853 (Approx. 4 pages)

Glossary

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

The US agency responsible for enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, including:

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978.
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, effective June 27, 2023.
The Equal Pay Act of 1963.
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967.
Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Sections 102 and 103 of the Civil Rights Act of 1991.
Sections 501 and 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008.

The EEOC is authorized to:

Issue regulations implementing these federal laws.
Investigate employment discrimination charges.
Attempt to settle employment discrimination charges.
File employment discrimination lawsuits.
Engage in outreach and educational efforts to prevent employment discrimination.
Advise and provide assistance to federal agencies and administrative judges related to EEOC regulations, complaint adjudication, federal agencies' affirmative action programs, educational materials, and training.
Adjudicate administrative appeals from other federal agencies on equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaints.

EEOC leadership is made up of five commissioners and a general counsel, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The agency operates out of Washington, DC with approximately 53 field offices throughout the US. It also partners with state fair employment practices agencies that enforce state and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

For more information, see Practice Notes:

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) | Practical Law