An individual who believes they have been the victim of discrimination in the workforce must file a claim with the federal agency called the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This is called a charge of discrimination. A person called the charging party files such a charge at the nearest EEOC office. Many states have multiple local or field offices. For example, in the state of Florida there is an EEOC office in Miami and Tampa.

In the charge, the charging party must include his or her name, address and phone number, the employer’s name and address, and must also explain the charge of discrimination the factual basis for the charge and the date. The so-called Charge Form will contain a section entitled Cause of Discrimination and will list boxes next to race, age, color, disability, sex, religion, national origin, retaliation or other. The charging party must check all boxes that possibly apply. If not, that could prevent the raising of the claim later down the road.

• What if an employer has multiple reasons for taking adverse action against an employee a discriminatory reason and a lawful reason?
• Who was Griggs in the Griggs v. Duke Power case?
• When did the U.S. Supreme Court first recognize that Title VII included disparate impact claims?
• What is an example of an employer policy that would be considered disparate impact?
• What are the two main types or theories of discrimination?
• Does Title VII apply to just intentional discrimination?
• Which states prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation for public employees only?
• What states have laws that prohibit discrimination against employees (public and private) because of sexual orientation?
• Since Title VII does not protect employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation does that mean these employees have no protection?
• TitleVII protects individuals based on their gender, but does it protect people because of their sexual orientation?
• Does Title VII protect individuals of all races?
• What types of discrimination does Title VII prohibit?
• Does Title VII apply to all employees?
• What is Title VII?
• Does my state also have anti discrimination laws that protect me as an employee?
• What are some of the major anti discrimination laws at the federal level?
• Can employers really discriminate against employees for any reason?
• What state passed a law that repealed the employment at will doctrine?
• What are some of the most common types of public policy exceptions to the employment at will doctrine?
• How does a court determine a public policy exception to the at will doctrine?