If you want to file a claim against your employer for discrimination, you need to file a claim at the nearest EEOC office. For many Arkansas workplace discrimination cases, workers file a claim at the EEOC Area Office located in Little Rock. However, some Arkansas workers might have to file a claim at the Memphis EEOC office. Where you file a claim depends on the location of where the discrimination took place.
Because of the current health crisis, the EEOC no longer schedules in-person interviews. Instead, employees that want to file a claim in Arkansas should schedule a telephone interview by accessing the EEOC Public Portal. If you are approaching the filing deadline, call 1-800-669-4000 to schedule a telephone interview with a representative from the EEOC.
What Does the EEOC Do?
Started in 1965 about one year after the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces federal anti-discrimination laws. Employers cannot discriminate based on many factors that include age, national origin, disability, and religion.
Both employees and job applicants receive federal law protection from the EEOC. Federal anti-discrimination statutes cover employers that have at least 15 employees. The EEOC enforces anti-discrimination laws for hiring and firing practices, as well as for training and promotions.
How many days do you have to contact the EEOC office located in Little Rock Arkansas? The answer is 180 calendar days, but if a state agency enforces a law that prohibits the same types of discrimination, then the deadline for contacting the EEOC extends to 300 days. The EEOC handles age discrimination deadlines differently. If you are a victim of age discrimination, get in touch with an Arkansas-licensed employment lawyer to discuss your legal options.
Where to File an EEOC Claim in Arkansas
820 Louisiana Street. Suite 200
Little Rock, AR 72201
Office Hours: M-F 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Phone: (501) 324-5060
Director: William A. Cash, Jr.
Regional Attorney: Faye Williams
Arkansas Employment Laws
The Arkansas Civil Rights Act makes it unlawful for employers to discriminate based on race, gender, religion, and national origin. State anti-discrimination law also forbids the practice of discriminating against workers that suffer from mental, physical, and/or sensory disabilities. Arkansas anti-discrimination statutes cover employers that employ fewer than 15 employees, while the EEOC does not have jurisdiction over employers that have fewer than 15 employees.
Wage theft is another employment law issue in Arkansas, and the practice implemented by some employers is considered fraud under Arkansas employment laws. Unlike 38 other states, Arkansas does not require employers to give workers paycheck stubs, which makes it difficult to prove a wage theft accusation. The state also has weak anti-retaliation laws on the books that favor employers.
Arkansas courts have issued multiple rulings that make sexual harassment illegal in the workplace. The courts ruled that the Arkansas Civil Rights Act protects workers in Arkansas from discriminatory practices based on sexual harassment tactics. Since there is not an explicit mention of sexual harassment in the Arkansas Civil Rights Act, any worker facing such harassment should contact an employment law attorney.
Work with an Arkansas Employment Lawyer
Workers in many states can file a discrimination claim with a state administrative agency. However, Arkansas does not have a state agency devoted to handling discrimination cases. This means an employment attorney will have to help you file a claim with the EEOC.
Your lawyer can help you submit convincing evidence, as well as prepare you for the phone interview conducted by a representative from the EEOC. Fill out the Free Case Evaluation above to get in touch with a participating, independent attorney who subscribe to the website.
