L02 Employment Legislation Enforcement - Federal

The role of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), logo shown to the right), the enforcement agency at the federal level, is also described with some detail. At the time it was founded, the EEOC only had responsibility for investigating claims of employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Nowadays, its obligations also include discrimination based on age (for individuals 40 or older), pregnancy and disability status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and even genetic information. 

Discrimination may occur at many points in the employment relationship, including hiring, training, promotions, compensation, benefits, and firing. Generally, an employee has 180 days to file a complaint if they believe they have been discriminated against.