Washington D.C. has a single EEOC Field Office located within the boundaries of the federal district, but there are other EEOC offices not too far away. There is another field office in nearby Baltimore and a district office in Philadelphia.
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 fair employment practices agency (FEPA). In Washington D.C. this would be the DC Office of Human Rights, which has an office on 4th Street, NW, in the city. D.C. 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 Washington D.C. and this also applies to all Virginia counties. If you work in a smaller workplace (fewer than 15 employees) the Office of Human Rights (OHR) imposes a 1 year time limit from the date of the discriminatory act to file a claim of discrimination.
EEOC Office Information in Washington D.C.
There is one EEOC field office in Washington D.C. The nearest other EEOC Field Office is in Baltimore, MD. The District office is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Location of EEOC’s D.C. Field Office
131 M Street, NE
Fourth Floor, Suite 4NWO2F
Washington, DC 20507-0100
Phone: 1-800-669-4000
Fax: 202-419-0739
TTY: 1-800-669-6820
ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122
Director: Mindy Weinstein
Regional Attorney: Debra Lawrence
Office Hours: 9.00– 4 p.m. Monday to Friday for telephone contact only.
Location of the closest other EEOC Field Office in Baltimore
Location
GH Fallon Federal Building
31 Hopkins Plaza, Suite 1432
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: 1-800-669-4000
Fax: 410-209-2221
TTY: 1-800-669-6820
ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122
Director: Rosemarie Rhodes
Regional Attorney: Debra Lawrence
Office Hours: 8.30 – 4 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.
Location of the nearest EEOC District Office in Philadelphia
01 Market Street, Suite 1000
Philadelphia, PA 19107-3126
Phone: 1-800-669-4000
Fax: 215-440-2606
TTY: 1-800-669-6820
ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122
Director: Jamie Williamson
Regional Attorney: Debra Lawrence
Office Hours: 8.30 – 5 p.m. Monday to Friday for telephone contact. Interviews are arranged through the Public Portal between Monday to Thursday. No in-office visits are possible at the moment because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Washington D.C. Employment Laws:
Washington D.C. 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 D.C. Office of Human Rights. The procedure is similar to that used by the EEOC.
Get Help
It can be quite nerve-racking filing a charge of discrimination against your employer. It can be of great assistance if you have the help of an employment law attorney to guide you through this often-intimidating process. The attorney may have thorough knowledge of the state and federal laws and can assist you in the preparation of your case against your employer.
The EEOC, or an FEPA, typically investigates the complaint. If the EEOC determines that you have justification for filing a lawsuit against your employer in a civil court, the attorney may help to prepare a persuasive case on your behalf.
