Louisiana has one Equal Employment Opportunity (EEOC) field office. If the incident in question took place within the state of Louisiana then you should file your claim at the EEOC office in New Orleans.
Please be advised that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, field offices across the country are closed to in-person intake interviews.
For your convenience, you can access more information, download forms and schedule a phone appointment through the EEOC Public Portal website or contact your local EEOC office.
The EEOC is the federal government agency responsible for protecting employees’ rights in the workplace. If you have experienced discrimination in a legally protected category such as race, sex, age or religion, then you can file an EEOC claim in Louisiana. You cannot file a private lawsuit against your employer without filing a claim with the EEOC first.
If you have been the victim of discrimination, it’s important to act quickly. You have 300 days from the date of the incident to file a claim with the EEOC.
Each state has different guidelines and laws governing discrimination claims, and so you should consider contacting an employment attorney to help guide you through the EEOC claim process in Louisiana.
EEOC Office Information in Louisiana
New Orleans
- Hale Boggs Federal Building
- 500 Poydras Street, Suite 809
- New Orleans, LA 70130
- Office Hours: M-F 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
- Phone: 1-800-669-4000
- Director: Travis Nicholson (Acting Director)
- Regional Attorney: Rudy Sustaita
State Employment Laws
The Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law protects workers from discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, age, race, color, disability, sickle cell trait, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions.
It’s important to note that Louisiana law only covers employers with 20 or more employees (25 or more for pregnancy and childbirth discrimination) while the EEOC covers employers with 15 or more employees.
If you choose to file your claim with the state, you can file with the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights (LCHR). Having an employment attorney can be helpful to decide where you should file your case.
It’s possible to cross-file with both agencies when all of the guidelines are met. It’s possible that your case could be resolved outside of court, so you do not need an attorney to file your claim, but it can be helpful to work with an employment attorney through the process.
The key is understanding the filing deadlines for each agency. You have 300 days from the date of the incident to file a federal claim with the EEOC but you only have 180 days to file with the LCHR.
Next Steps to Take
You cannot file a discrimination lawsuit without going through the EEOC first, so having an employment attorney working on your behalf from the very beginning can be very helpful.
An employment attorney can help you determine where to file, help you gather evidence and help to represent you in court if your case is not settled through the agency. You will also have the peace of mind knowing that you have an expert working on your behalf.
To learn more about how an employment attorney can help you with your EEOC claim in Louisiana, fill out a free case evaluation.
Additional Resources
