There is only one EEOC office in Ohio. This is the Area Office in Cincinnati. The nearest District Office is in Indianapolis, Indiana.
In-office visits are not permissible at the moment because of the pandemic, but either 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 Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (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 Ohio this would be the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. The main office is in Columbus, but there are regional offices in Cincinnati and Dayton.
You have 300 days from the date an incident of discrimination took place to file a complaint with the EEOC in Ohio if you work in a workplace with more than 15 employees.
If you work in a smaller workplace (fewer than 15 employees) the state FEPA, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission imposes a 6 month limit on claims to be filed after the date of the act of discrimination.
EEOC Office Information in Ohio
There is a single EEOC Area Office in Ohio. This is in Cincinnati. The District Office that serves Ohio is in Indianapolis, IN.
John W. Peck Federal Office Building
- 550 Main Street, Suite 10-191
- Cincinnati, OH 45202
- Phone: 1-800-669-4000
- Fax: 513-246-0218
- TTY:1-800-669-6820
- ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122
- Director: Melanie L. Breen
- Regional Attorney: Kenneth Bird
Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. from Monday to Friday for telephone contact only. No walk-ins are possible at the moment because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Location of EEOC District Office in Indianapolis
- 101 West Ohio St, Ste 1900
- Indianapolis, IN 46204
- Phone: 1-800-669-4000
- Fax: 317-226-7953
- TTY: 1-800-669-6820
- ASL Video Phone:844-234-5122
- Director: Michelle Eisele
- Regional Attorney: Kenneth Bird
Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. from Monday to Friday for telephone contact only. No walk-ins are possible at the moment because of Covid-19 restrictions.
State Employment Laws:
Ohio has similar laws to the federal government regarding discrimination at work. Discrimination at work because of an employee’s age, gender, sexual orientation, color, religion, ethnicity or disability is illegal.
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 Ohio Civil Rights Commission if they experience being discriminated against. The procedure is similar to that of the EEOC, but the time limit is less (6 months rather than 300 days).
Conclusion:
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.
