Illinois has one district office in Chicago. Depending on where the incident occurred, you may have to file your claim at the St. Louis district office. Please note that due to COVID-19 health concerns, there are no in-person office visits and all interviews are temporarily being carried out via telephone. You can call or email your local EEOC office or online to schedule a telephone appointment.
What Does the EEOC Do?
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, investigates complaints of employment discrimination based on attributes like age (40 or older), sex, disability, religion, and race. It applies to:
- U.S. employers with at least 15 employees (20 employees in age discrimination cases)
- Employment agencies
- Labor unions
If it concludes that an employer is violating the law, the EEOC takes action to stop the discriminatory practices. When employers fail or refuse to make necessary changes, the EEOC will escalate the matter to court.
How Do You Contact the EEOC?
If you need to file an employment discrimination claim in Illinois, you can contact the EEOC office near you in the following ways:
- Online at the EEOC Public Portal
- In person at your nearest EEOC office
- By phone at 1-800-669-4000
- Sending mail to your closest EEOC office
EEOC Office Information in Illinois
Chicago District Office
JCK Federal Building
230 S Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60604
Office Hours: M-F 8:30 AM-4:00 PM
Director: Julianne Bowman
Regional Attorney: Gregory M. Gochanour
St. Louis District Office
Robert A. Young Federal Building
1222 Spruce St.
Rm 8.100
St. Louis, MO 63103
Office Hours: M-F 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Director: Lloyd J. (Jack) Vasquez, Jr.
Regional Attorney: Andrea Baran
How Many Days Do You Have to Contact the EEOC Office?
In Illinois, you have up to 300 calendar days to file a charge.
Illinois State Employment Laws
Under the Illinois Human Rights Act, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate you on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age (40 and over), sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, military status, genetic information, arrest record, being a victim of domestic violence, actual or perceived disability.
Illinois anti-discrimination laws cover smaller employers for sexual harassment, age, and retaliation claims only. Even companies with a single employee can be investigated for sexual harassment, disability discrimination, and retaliation.
In addition, the Illinois Wage Theft Enforcement Act restricts employers from paying less than minimum wage. If your employer tries to take advantage of you in this respect, you can recover triple the amount of the underpayment, plus legal costs and 5% of the underpayment amount for each month that it goes unpaid.
Next Steps
The EEOC partners with Fair Employment Practice Agencies (FEPAs) and the Tribal Employment Rights Offices to investigate discrimination charges. The Illinois Department of Human Rights, which is a FEPA, has offices in Chicago and Springfield to advise you on your EEOC case.
When you’re dealing with discrimination, it can be disheartening and demoralizing. An employment law attorney can advise you of your rights under the EEOC and may give you the counsel and representation you need to pursue the justice you deserve.
Additional Resources
- What is the Illinois Human Rights Act?
- Employment Law Trends in 2023
- Do I Need an Attorney for My Sexual Harassment Case?
- How to Prove Racial Discrimination
