If you are a worker in Connecticut and you want to file a discrimination claim against your employer, you have to visit the Boston Area Office to start the process. However, because of the pandemic, all EEOC offices in the United States have temporarily closed.
This means you should schedule a telephone interview by going to the EEOC Public Portal. If you are getting near the deadline to file a claim, call 1-800-669-4000 to schedule a telephone interview with a representative from the EEOC.
What Does the EEOC Do?
As part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII defines anti-discrimination statute that mandates the formation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC represents the federal government agency that is responsible for enforcing anti-discrimination laws.
According to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is unlawful for employers to discriminate based on several factors that include age, race, and religion. Federal anti-discrimination statutes apply to employers that have at least 15 employees on their payrolls. The EEOC monitors all aspects of an employer’s operation for discriminatory practices, including training programs and promotion criteria.
One of the most important things for workers to know is the answer to the question “How many days do you have to contact the EEOC Office in Boston, Massachusetts?” The EEOC has established a deadline of 180 calendar days to contact the closest EEOC Office. If your state enforces Anti-discrimination laws that mirror the laws passed at the federal level, then you have 300 days to contact the nearest EEOC office.
Where to File an EEOC Claim in Connecticut
JFK Federal Building
15 New Sudbury Street, Room 475
Boston, MA 02203-0506
Office Hours: M-F 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Phone: (617) 565-3200
Director: Feng K. An
Regional Attorney: Jeffrey Burstein
Connecticut Employment Laws
Connecticut anti-discrimination laws cover more criteria than what the federal laws cover.
- Age
- Race
- Ancestry
- Learning disability
- Physical disability
- Sight impaired
- Marital status
- National Origin
- Gender
- Sexual orientation
Connecticut laws also cover employers that employ at least three workers, which is 12 fewer workers required at the federal level for employer responsibility to follow anti-discrimination laws. The Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities enforces the state’s anti-discrimination laws.
In 2019, Connecticut passed the Time’s Up Act, which expanded sexual harassment training requirements for employers that have workers in Connecticut. Employers must provide a minimum of two hours of sexual harassment training to all employees regardless of job level. Employees hired after October 1, 2019, must receive sexual harassment training within six months of their hire dates.
Connecticut laws require employers to pay back workers for pilfered wages at a rate of two times the amount of the stolen pay. The only way for an employer to avoid the stiff financial penalty for wage theft is to prove that it made an honest mistake, not a concerted effort to defraud employees of their wages.
How Do I File an EEOC Complaint in Connecticut?
Discrimination in employment complaints in Connecticut can be made with the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), or the state’s own Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO). The EEOC and the CHRO have a work sharing agreement, so any complaint received by one agency is dual filed with the other. The EEOC primarily investigates complaints of discrimination in workplaces of 15 or more employees. If you are in a smaller workplace, you can file your complaint with the CHRO in the appropriate state.
Both the EEOC and the CHRO investigate instances of discrimination at work. Federal and state laws are similar in that discrimination against an employee because of their age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy status, religion, ethnic group or color are prohibited.
To file a complaint with the EEOC, you have several different options. These include the following.
- You can file your complaint online through the agency’s Public Portal.
- You can request an appointment at any nearest EEOC District or Field office. There are no EEOC offices in Connecticut, so the closest EEOC offices would be in New York State (New York, Buffalo), Massachusetts (Boston) or Philadelphia (Pittsburgh).
- Telephone calls can be made to an EEOC office, but these are mainly to ascertain that the EEOC is the best agency to use for your complaint.
In Connecticut, the CHRO has regional offices in Hartford, Bridgeport, Waterbury and Norwich.
The EEOC gives 300 days from the date that the discrimination occurred to file a complaint. The CHRO also has a 300-day time limit to file a complaint with them.
Get Legal Counsel for a Discrimination Claim
Before you contact the Boston EEOC office, get in touch with a Connecticut-licensed employment attorney to discuss how to file a persuasive claim against your employer. Your lawyer may ask you to collect evidence to submit with your claim.
Since there are no more in-person interactions at the Boston EEOC office, you must submit all of your evidence at the time you file a discrimination claim. Your attorney can help you prepare for the phone interview with an EEOC representative as well.
