Boston’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Addressing workplace discrimination

Robert Sanders(Boston Area Office Director)

 

Have you been terminated from a job and felt that your race may have been a factor in the decision....?

Or not hired because of your skin color, place of birth or sex......?

The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has the responsibility for enforcing anti- discrimination laws in New England and wants to help.

Complaints of race discrimination have continued to rise nationally over the past several years. EEOC statistics show that in 2002, monetary settlements of more than $81 million dollars were obtained from race-based charges.
The Boston Office has had its share of high profile settlements over the years in New England, including the settlement of a lawsuit charging that Keane, Inc., a national informational technology service firm based in Massachusetts, subjected African American employees to race discrimination and related retaliation and constructive discharge.
The EEOC enforces several federal laws which prohibit discrimination in the workplace including Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which protects individuals from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, and religion; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, which protects individuals age 40 and older from discrimination on the basis of their age; Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which protects qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities, and the Equal Pay Act which prohibits gender-based discrimination in the payment of wages.

Employer perspective

In Boston, the EEOC has a long history of enforcing employment rights and promoting "proactive prevention" which tells employers they should take all necessary steps to prevent unlawful discrimination in their workplaces.
Through its charge processing system the EEOC investigates all aspects of employment wrongs such as hiring, promotion, discharge, lay off, terms and conditions of employment, hours of work, wages, working conditions, benefits and other work situation.

Protecting employees
The EEOC also protects employees from discriminatory harassment and prohibits employers from retaliating against persons who have filed a charge, assisted in an investigation or opposed practices believed to be unlawful under any of these laws.
"Employees are entitled to work in an environment free of discrimination and the Boston Area Office welcomes all New Englanders, in whatever industry or walk of life, to contact us,”said Robert Sanders, Boston Area Office Director. “Our office has resources to expedite charge processing time; provide mediation, which encourages quick confidential resolutions, and a litigation unit which strives to enforce discrimination law.”

"Proactive Prevention" through Education

The ‘proactive prevention’ of discrimination is premised on the belief that employers who know what the laws require of them will actively work to prevent unlawful discrimination in their workplaces.
To support them in their efforts, the EEOC provides training as well as informational sessions to small business and other companies to focus on the laws it enforces.
Another resource the Commission provides businesses is Technical Assistance Program Seminars, which deal with employment discrimination issues.

Getting to know the EEOC Process

Identifyng discrimination
Many times, discrimination is subtle and only you will know if you feel something wrong is going on.

Handling of cases
The EEOC will accept charges of discrimination regardless of citizenship status. If a person feels that some type of discrimination has occurred while looking for employment or while employed, a charge should be filed with the EEOC. Also, the victim should take steps to help the EEOC along in its investigation.

What are the costs involved?
The EEOC is a federal agency and charges nothing for its services, there are no fees or cost to a charging party.

Visting the EEOC office
The Boston Office of the EEOC welcomes calls or visits and will counsel a potential claimant. The office is located at the John F. Kennedy Federal Building, Government Center, Room 475, Boston, Massachusetts 02203-0506. Staff includes 11 investigators, three trial attorneys, a mediator and an administrative judge.

Filing a charge
If you believe you have been discriminated against by an employer, labor union or employment agency when applying for a job or while on the job because of your race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, or disability, or believe that you have been discriminated against because of opposing a prohibited practice or participating in an equal employment opportunity matter, you may file a charge of discrimination.

Documentation
First, if you feel that you have been treated differently than others or if you feel you have been harassed because of your race, take steps to document the actions and issues. It is helpful to maintain a log or diary, and detail events, activities and facts. If taking notes, write down the name of witnesses, record dates and times, this is important in helping the EEOC develop a case. While evidence is not always available, you should note offensive statements or racial epithets that other employees or managers have made.

For more information, contact the EEOC via phone (617) 565- 3200 or toll free at 1-800-669-4000.

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