There are currently no EEOC offices located in West Virginia. The nearest District Office is in Philadelphia, PA. The nearest field or local EEOC offices geographically are in Cleveland, OH and Norfolk or Richmond, VA. In-office visits are not possible 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. Because there are no physical visits permissible at the moment, it doesn’t really matter which office you contact if you wish to file a complaint.
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 West Virginia this would be the West Virginia Human Rights Commission which has an office in Charleston.
West Virginia’s Human Rights Act 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 West Virginia. If you work in a smaller workplace (fewer than 15 employees) the West Virginia Human Rights Commission imposes a 365 day limit from the date of the discriminatory act to file a claim of discrimination.
EEOC Office Information in West Virginia
There are no EEOC field offices in South Carolina. The nearest are located in Cleveland, OH or Norfolk, VA. The EEOC District Office is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Location of EEOC’s Cleveland Area Office
Anthony J. Celebrezze Federal Building
1240 E. 9th Street, Suite 3001
Cleveland, OH 44199
Phone: 1-800-669-4000
Fax: 216-522-7395
TTY: 1-800-669-6820
ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122
Director (Acting): Karen McDonough
Regional Attorney: Debra Lawrence
Office Hours: 8.30 – 4.45 p.m. Monday to Friday for telephone contact and enquiries and 8.30-3.30 every weekday except Wednesday for interviews.
Location of EEOC’s Norfolk Local Office
Federal Building
200 Granby Street
Suite 739
Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: 1-800-669-4000
Fax: 757-441-6720
TTY: 1-800-669-6820
ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122
Director: Norberto Rosa-Ramos
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 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.
State Employment Laws:
West Virginia 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 West Virginia Human Rights Commission. The procedure is similar to that used by the EEOC.
Get Help With Your Claim
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.
