Check Your State Fair Employment Agency

All but five states have an agency to investigate workplace harassment and discrimination complaints and enforce local harassment and discrimination laws. These state agencies are collectively referred to as Fair Employment Practices Agencies (FEPA).
You file a charge of discrimination with your state agency. If federal laws apply to your claim, in most states it will automatically be filed with the EEOC as well.
Know Important Numbers, Timelines, and Dates
If you are experiencing workplace harassment or discrimination, you will want to know important dates and details that can be relevant to filing a harassment or discrimination complaint.
Even if you aren’t sure how you will work to resolve your complaint, or think you might never consider filing a complaint with your state or the EEOC, knowing this information is important.
Your HR department and company lawyers know this information, you need to as well.
- Number of Employees: The number of employees your company employs is relevant if you decide to escalate your complaint to a federal or state agency. This number is set by the EEOC but your state laws may have more favorable terms.
- Age Discrimination: The number of employees required for filing an age discrimination complaint may be different than other discrimination complaints
- Time: You have a limited amount of time to file a complaint with a state or federal agency. The time allowed is set by the EEOC but can be more generous based on the laws of your state. Knowing these dates from the start may give you some leverage when seeking a satisfactory resolution with your company
- Important Dates: Access our List of Important Dates HERE
Knowledge is Power. Information is Liberating.
EEOC and State Agencies
While the EEOC is the federal agency that manages and investigates harassment and discrimination complaints (i.e., federal Title VII of the Civil Rights Act), each state is able to determine its own state laws as long as those laws fall within federal guidelines.
Some states have a more generous filing deadline. Some states allow claims against companies with fewer employees. Some states provide greater protections for protected classes. If you have exhausted all possible means to resolve the issue with your company and you have decided to file with your state/EEOC:
- Check your state requirements below. You can file your complaint (called An Administrative Charge) with the EEOC or your state agency (if they have one). Your state agency will cross-file your complaint with the EEOC if you meet the EEOC requirements.
- If you have an equal pay complaint, you can sue your company without filing an EEOC complaint. If you believe you were not paid fairly due to discrimination, you have two years to file a discrimination complaint with the EEOC. You can find more information about equal pay HERE.
Workplaces Not Covered by Title VII
Not everyone works for a company that is covered under Title VII. For those individuals, different laws must be followed when confronting harassment in the workplace:
- If you work for a company with fewer employees than is allowed by federal law, check with your state agency for other possible options
- If you are a federal employee, you are covered by the EEOC, but must follow a different process (see below)
- If you work for the military you must follow a different process (see below)
- You can also find a helpful summary of current workplace protections by state, as of August 2022 HERE.
State Fair Employment Practices Agencies, Statutes and Services
Alaska

Alaska
State Agency: Alaska State Commission for Human Rights (ASCHR)
Min # of employees:
– discrimination: 15
– harassment: 2
– age: 15
Days to file: 180 days
Arizona

Arizona
State Agency: Arizona Civil Rights Division (ACRD)
Min # of employees:
– discrimination: 15
– harassment: 1
– age: 15
Days to file: 180 days
Arkansas

Arkansas
State Agency: NONE / File complaints with the EEOC
Min # of employees:
– discrimination: 15
– harassment: 15
– age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
California

California
State Agency: California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH)
Min # of employees:
– discrimination: 5
– harassment: 1
– age: 5
Days to file: 365 days
Colorado

Colorado
State Agency: Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD)
Min # of employees:
– discrimination: 5
– harassment: 1
– age: 20
Days to file: 6 months
Connecticut

Connecticut
State Agency: Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 3
age: 3
Days to file: 180 days
Delaware

Delaware
State Agency: Delaware Department of Labor (DDOL)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 4
age: 20
Days to file: 300 days
Florida

Florida
State Agency: Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination 15
harassment: 15
age: 20
Days to file: 365 days
Georgia

Georgia
State Agency: NONE / File complaints with the EEOC
Min # of employees:
discrimination 15
harassment: 15
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Hawaii

Hawaii
State Agency: Hawai’i Civil Rights Commission (HCRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Idaho

Idaho
State Agency: Idaho Human Rights Commission (IHRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 5
age: 5
Days to file: 365 days
Illinois

Illinois
State Agency: Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 300 days
Additional Filing Options: Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR)
Indiana

Indiana
State Agency: Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 6
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Iowa

Iowa
State Agency: Iowa Civil Rights Commission (ICRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 4
age: 4 non-family member employees
Days to file: 300 days
Kansas

Kansas
State Agency: Kansas Human Rights Commission (KHRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 6
age: 6
Days to file: 6 months
Kentucky

Kentucky
State Agency: Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (KCHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 20*
harassment: 20*
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
* If your company employs 15-19 employees, file complaints with the EEOC
Louisiana

Louisiana
State Agency: Louisiana Commission on Human Rights (LCHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Maine

Maine
State Agency: Maine Human Rights Commission (MHRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 300 days
Maryland

Maryland
State Agency: Maryland Commission on Human Relations (MCHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 20
Days to file: 6 months
Massachusetts

Massachusetts
State Agency: Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 6
age: 6
Days to file: 300 days
Michigan

Michigan
State Agency: Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Minnesotta

Minnesotta
State Agency: Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 1 year
Mississippi

Mississippi
State Agency: NONE / File complaints with the EEOC
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Missouri

Missouri
State Agency: Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 6
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Montana

Montana
State Agency: Human Rights Bureau (HRB)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Nebraska

Nebraska
State Agency: Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission (NEOC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 20
Days to file: 300 days
Nevada

Nevada
State Agency: Nevada Equal Rights Commission (NERC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 15
Days to file: 300 days
New Hampshire

New Hampshire
State Agency: New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights (NHCHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 16
harassment: 6
age: 6
Days to file: 180 days
New Jersey

New Jersey
State Agency: New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
New Mexico

New Mexico
State Agency: New Mexico Human Rights Bureau (HRB)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 4
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
New York

New York
State Agency: New York Division of Human Rights (DHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 4
age: 4
Days to file: 1 year
North Carolina

North Carolina
State Agency: NONE / File complaints with the EEOC.
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
North Dakota

North Dakota
State Agency: North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights (HRD)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 300 days
Ohio

Ohio
State Agency: Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 4
age: 4
Days to file: 6 months
Oklahoma

Oklahoma
State Agency: Office of Civil Rights Enforcement (OCRE)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Oregon

Oregon
State Agency: Bureau of Labor & Industries (BOLI)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 1 year
Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania
State Agency: Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 4
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Rhode Island

Rhode Island
State Agency: Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights (RICHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 4
age: 4
Days to file: 1 year
South Carolina

South Carolina
State Agency: South Carolina Human Affairs Commission (SHAC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
South Dakota

South Dakota
State Agency: South Dakota Division of Human Rights (SDDHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 180 days
Tennessee

Tennessee
State Agency: Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 8
age: 8
Days to file: 180 days
Texas

Texas
State Agency: Texas Workforce Commission — Civil Rights Division (TWC-CRD)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 15
Days to file: 180 days
Utah

Utah
State Agency: Utah Antidiscrimination and Labor Division (UALD)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 15
age: 15
Days to file: 180 days
Vermont

Vermont
State Agency: Vermont Human Rights Commission (VHRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 300 days
Virginia

Virginia
State Agency: Division of Human Rights (DHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 6
age: 6
Days to file: 300 days
Washington

Washington
State Agency: Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 8
age: 8
Days to file: 6 months
Washington DC

Washington DC
Agency: Office of Human Rights (OHR)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 15
Days to file: 1 year
West Virginia

West Virginia
State Agency: West Virginia Human Rights Commission (WVHRC)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 12
age: 20
Days to file: 365 days
Wisconsin

Wisconsin
State Agency: Wisconsin Equal Rights Division (WERD)
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 1
age: 20
Days to file: 300 days
Wyoming

Wyoming
State Agency: Wyoming Fair Employment Practices (WFEP)+
Min # of employees:
discrimination: 15
harassment: 2
age: 20
Days to file: 6 months
Federal Employee

U.S. Military

U.S. Military
Agency: Department of Defense
Hotline open M-F 8am-4pm EST: 800-424-9098
Email: hotline@dodig.osd.mil
Days to file: 45 days