South Carolina has only one EEOC Area Office which is in Greenville. The nearest District Office is in Charlotte, NC. In-office visits are not permissible at the moment because of the pandemic, but either the area office or district 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.
What is the EEOC?
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 South Carolina this would be the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission which has an office in Columbia.
South Carolina law protects employees from discrimination at work because they belong to a protected class. A complaint can be filed against an employer if discrimination is experienced in a similar way as can be done with the EEOC.
You have 300 days from the date an incident of discrimination took place to file a complaint with the EEOC in all South Carolina counties. If you work in a smaller workplace (fewer than 15 employees) the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission imposes a similar 300 day limit from the date of the discriminatory act to file a claim of discrimination.
EEOC Office Information in South Carolina
There is one EEOC field office in South Carolina. This is in Greenville. The EEOC District Office is in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Location of EEOC’s Greenville Area Office
301 N. Main Street
Suite 1402
Greenville, SC 29601-9916
Phone: 1-800-669-4000
Fax: 864-241-4416
TTY: 1-800-669-6820
ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122
Director: Patricia B. Fuller
Regional Attorney: Melinda Dugas
Office Hours: 8.30 – 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 8.30-noon on Friday for telephone contact only.
Location of the nearest EEOC District Office in Charlotte
129 West Trade Street
Suite 400
Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: 1-800-669-4000
Fax: 704-954-6410
TTY: 1-800-669-6820
ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122
Director: Thomas Colclough
Regional Attorney: Melinda Dugas
Office Hours: 8.30 – 5 p.m. Monday to Friday for interviews arranged through the Public Portal. No in-office visits are possible at the moment because of Covid-19 restrictions.
South Carolina Employment Laws
South Carolina 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 South Carolina Human Affairs Commission. The procedure is similar to that used by the EEOC.
Find Help
It can be intimidating going through the process of filing a charge of discrimination against your employer. It may 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 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. Complete the Free Case Evaluation on this page to get connected with an independent, participating lawyer who subscribes to the website.
