California has 2 District offices and 4 Field Offices. Depending on where the incident took place, you should file your claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) at the nearest office.
In-office visits are not permissible at the moment because of the pandemic, the office can still be contacted by phone or email for advice. An intake appointment can also still be scheduled through the online Public Portal and interviews made by telephone.
The EEOC is a federal agency that oversees all federal anti-discrimination laws as they apply to employment.
These laws include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). The EEOC investigates and acts on legitimate claims by employees who work for employers with 15 or more employees.
Employees who wish to make a complaint or file a claim but work in smaller workplaces may be able to use a state Fair Employment Practices Agency (FEPA). In California, this would be the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. There are offices in Fresno, Bakersfield, and Los Angeles.
You have 300 days from the date an incident of discrimination took place to file a complaint with the EEOC in California.
If you work in a smaller workplace (fewer than 15 employees) the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) imposes a 365-day limit on claims of discrimination filed against an employer after a violation of California law has taken place.
How Do I File an EEOC Complaint in California?
If you believe that you have suffered workplace discrimination in California, you can file a complaint with the EEOC or the state’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). The EEOC is a federal agency, in charge of enforcing federal anti-discrimination legislation such as the ADEA, the ADA, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The process of filing a claim with the EEOC is no different in California than it is in any other state, but if you file your claim with the DFEH, there will be a state-specific procedure involved. Please note that the EEOC primarily investigates complaints of discrimination in workplaces with 15 or more employees. The DFEH will investigate complaints by employees in smaller workplaces and has a work-sharing agreement with the EEOC.
There are several ways you can file your EEOC California discrimination complaint. These include:
- using the EEOC’s online Public Portal to file your complaint;
- in person at one of California’s EEOC District or Field offices. These are in San Francisco, Oakland, San Diego, L.A., Fresno and San Jose. You need to make a prior appointment before attending an interview at an EEOC office.
- By telephone. This option is an initial stage in which the EEOC official will determine whether your complaint is relevant to the EEOC.
The EEOC gives 300 days from the date of workplace discrimination to file a complaint, while DFEH gives 365 days to file a complaint of discrimination.
EEOC Office Information in California
EEOC’s San Francisco District Office
- 450 Golden Gate Avenue
- 5 West, P.O Box 36025
- San Francisco, CA 94102-3661
- Phone: 1-800-669-4000
- Fax: 415-522-3415
- TTY: 1-800-669-6820
- ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122
- Director: William R. Tamayo
- Regional Attorney: Roberta Steele
Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday for telephone contact only. No walk-ins available because of the pandemic. Interviews scheduled through the Public Portal will be available between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Location of the EEOC’s Oakland Local Office
- 1301 Clay Street
- Suite 680-N
- Oakland, CA 94612-5217
- Phone: 1-800-669-4000
- Fax: 510-637-3235
- TTY: 1-800-669-6820
- ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122
- Director: Steven Hunt
- Regional Attorney: Roberta Steele
Office Hours: 8.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday by telephone contact only. No walk-ins available because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Location of the EEOC’s San Jose Local Office
- 96 N. Third St., Suite 250
- San Jose, CA 95112
- Phone: 1-800-669-4000
- Fax: 408-291-4539
- TTY: 1-800-669-6820
- ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122
- Director: Rosa Salazar
- Regional Attorney: Roberta Steele
Office Hours: 8.00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday by telephone contact only. No walk-ins available because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Location of the EEOC’s Los Angeles District Office
Roybal Federal Building
- 255 East Temple St., 4th Floor
- Los Angeles, CA 90012
- Phone: 1-800-669-4000
- Fax: 213-894-1118
- TTY: 1-800-669-6820
- ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122
- Director: Rosa Viramontes
- Regional Attorney: Anna Y. Park
Office Hours: 8.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Monday to Friday by telephone contact only. No walk-ins available because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Location of the EEOC’s Fresno Local Office
Robert E. Coyle Federal Courthouse
- 2500 Tulare Street, Suite 2601
- Fresno, CA 93721
- Phone: 1-800-669-4000
- Fax: 559-487-5053
- TTY: 1-800-669-6820
- ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122
- Director: Melissa Barrios
- Regional Attorney: Anna Y. Park
Office Hours: 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday by telephone contact only. No walk-ins available because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Location of the EEOC’s San Diego Local Office
- 555 West Beech Street, Suite 504
- San Diego, CA 92101
- Phone: 1-800-669-4000
- Fax: 619-557-7274
- TTY: 1-800-669-6820
- ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122
- Director: Christopher Green
- Regional Attorney: Anna Y. Park
Office Hours: 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday by telephone contact only. No walk-ins available because of Covid-19 restrictions.
State Employment Laws:
California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) is similar to the federal government’s laws regarding discrimination at work. Discrimination at work because of an employee’s age, gender, sexual orientation, color, religion, ethnicity or disability is illegal. The EEOC can investigate all forms of discrimination, including if you still work for the employer, quit or were wrongfully terminated.
Any type of sexual harassment at work, such as unsolicited emails, phone calls, physical contact, innuendo, etc., is regarded as a form of sex discrimination and is also illegal. Employees, especially those who work in smaller workplaces, can file a charge of discrimination with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing if they experience being discriminated against.
Next Steps To Take
It can be intimidating going through the process of filing a charge of discrimination against your employer. It can help to have an employment law attorney work with you through this process. The attorney knows the state and federal laws thoroughly and can help you prepare your case against your employer.
The EEOC, or state FEPA, will normally attempt to investigate the complaint. If the EEOC then decides you have grounds to file a lawsuit against your employer in a civil court, the attorney can help prepare a convincing case on your behalf.
