Asserting Your Rights Against Discrimination
Before you can sue your employer for discrimination or harassment, you must first file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency that enforces laws prohibiting discrimination, or your state's fair employment practices agency. Once you have filed a charge and gone through the agency's process, you have only a short time in which to file a lawsuit.
The articles below describe these procedures and provide information on your rights -- including the right to work free of retaliation, if you bring a complaint. The EEOC reports that more charges allege retaliation than any type of discrimination; if you are mistreated, disciplined, or fired for complaining of discrimination or harassment, you may have a retaliation claim to add to your charge or lawsuit.
Learn More About Your Rights
Learn More About Your Rights
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Damages Available Under Federal Discrimination Laws
In the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Congress made punitive damages and damages for pain and suffering available in discrimination cases.
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Disparate Treatment Discrimination
Disparate treatment cases allege that an employee was treated worse than others based on a protected characteristic.
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Disparate Impact Discrimination
Disparate impact lawsuits claim that an employer's facially neutral practice had a discriminatory effect.
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Employment Discrimination Damages: How Much Can You Collect If You Win?
Find out what type of money damages you can get in your employment discrimination case.
Filing a Charge or Complaint
Filing a Charge or Complaint
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Do You Need an Employment Discrimination Lawyer?
Learn how an employment lawyer can help you in your employment discrimination case.
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Will a Lawyer Take Your Employment Discrimination Case?
Find out how a lawyer will evaluate your potential employment discrimination case.
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The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces federal laws prohibiting workplace discrimination.
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How Much Does an Employment Discrimination Lawyer Charge?
Learn the different types of fee arrangements in an employment discrimination case.
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Suing for Harassment or Discrimination
Before you can file a harassment or discrimination lawsuit against your employer, you have to bring your complaint to a state or federal agency.
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The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The EEOC's website provides information on filing a charge, asserting your rights, finding a local EEOC office, and much more.
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Find a Local Employment Lawyer
Use Nolo's lawyer directory to find attorneys near you who specialize in representing employees.
Workplace Retaliation
Workplace Retaliation
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Workplace Retaliation: What Are Your Rights?
Learn about workplace retaliation -- and what to do if it happens to you.
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What Damages Can You Get If Your Employer Retaliates Against You?
Learn how you may be compensated if you win a retaliation case against your employer.
More Legal Topics
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