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NEW YORK, NY -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces federal discrimination laws that prohibit sexual harassment; protect equal pay based on sex; prohibit discrimination based on age (40 and older), color, disability, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion or sex; and protect workers from retaliation. Most state and local laws match federal laws and go further. In New York, for instance, it's illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation or marital status.
The E.E.O.C. handles about 80,000 discrimination claims, called "charges," each year, though many other acts of discrimination go unreported, experts say, partly because workers think they cannot afford a lawyer or may get fired. But workers do not need a lawyer to pursue a discrimination claim, which is free, and some lawyers work on a contingency basis. Workers can also get help fighting their case through various legal defense funds, aligned with specific groups, like the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund.
A few months ago, the E.E.O.C. set up a national contact center with a toll-free number - (800) 669-4000 - that workers can call with questions. They can also file a claim in person at their local office or by mail.
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