Utah does not have any EEOC Area Offices or District Offices anywhere within the state. The nearest Area Offices are in Denver, CO or Albuquerque, NM. The nearest District office is in Phoenix, AZ. 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.
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 Utah this would be the Utah Anti-Discrimination and Labor Division, which has an office in Salt Lake City. Utah 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 Utah. If you work in a smaller workplace (fewer than 15 employees) the Utah state government imposes a 180 day limit from the date of the discriminatory act to file a claim of discrimination.
EEOC Office Information in Utah
There are no EEOC offices at all in Utah. The nearest area offices are in Albuquerque, NM and Denver, CO. The District office is in Phoenix, AZ.
Location of EEOC’s Albuquerque Area Office
- 505 Marquette Avenue, NW
- Suite 900 - 9th Floor
- Albuquerque, NM 87102
- Phone: 1-800-669-4000
- Fax: 505-248-5192
- TTY: 1-800-669-6820
- ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122
- Director: Christina Vigil Frazier (Acting)
- Regional Attorney: Mary Jo O'Neill
- Office Hours: 8.00 – 4 p.m. Monday to Friday for telephone contact only.
Location of EEOC’s Denver Field Office
- 950 17th Street
- Suite 300
- Denver, CO 80202
- Phone: 1-800-669-4000
- Fax: 303-866-1085
- TTY: 1-800-669-6820
- ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122
- Director: Amy Burkholder
- Regional Attorney: Mary Jo O'Neill
- Office Hours: 8.00 – 4.30 p.m. Monday to Friday for telephone contact only.
Location of the nearest EEOC District Office in Phoenix, Arizona
- 3300 North Central Avenue
- Suite 690
- Phoenix, AZ 85012-2504
- Phone: 1-800-669-4000
- Fax: 602-640-5071
- TTY:1-800-669-6820
- ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122
- Director: Elizabeth Cadle
- Regional Attorney: Mary Jo O'Neill
- Office Hours: 8 to 4.30p.m. for interviews arranged through the Public Portal. No in-office visits are possible at the moment because of Covid-19 restrictions.
State Employment Laws:
Utah 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 Utah Anti-Discrimination and Labor Division. The procedure is similar to that used by the EEOC.
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.
Additional Resources
