Navigating Complaints: A Who’s Who
![Roles and Responsibilities](https://thewolfandthebee.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Roles-and-Responsibilities.jpg)
However you decide to deal with discrimination or harassment, it is important to understand who you can speak to, who they represent and what their roles and responsibilities are.
YOU
- Represent yourself
- Define, speak and hold people accountable to your boundaries
- Document Everything!
- Be prepared for each stage of the process
- Keep track of important dates
ATTORNEY
- Represents you
- Communicates your interests with the company and EEOC
- Negotiates and reviews settlement offers
- Litigates as your legal representative, once you have a “Right to Sue” letter from the EEOC
- Works within current laws
BOSS/SUPERVISOR
- Represents the company’s interests first
- Works to find a resolution to the problem between the harassed and the harasser, within their purview
- May be required to report all incidents to HR
Human Resources
- Represents the company’s interest first
- Manages the complaint information
- Manages the investigation process
- Investigates harassment and discrimination claims directly, or hires an outside firm to conduct the investigation
- Assesses risks of a complaint to the company
- Determines resolution for all parties, but with company’s interests prioritized
- Presents findings, resolution, agreement, and settlement offers
EEOC
- “Neutral” party
- Federal government agency that fields complaints under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- May investigate claims
- May facilitate a settlement between complainant and company through mediation
- Makes a perfunctory finding for the complaint
- Issues complainant a “Right To Sue” letter, without finding
- Issues complainant a “Right To Sue” letter with finding
- Can take direct legal action with a company – only done in 1-3% of all cases