EEOC & District Court Complaints Solely Focused on Federal Employment Law

EEOC Attorneys with Offices in the Tampa Bay Area

Helping Federal Employees Fight Discrimination in the Workplace

No one wants to face harassment, discrimination, or hostility in any workplace. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) works to enforce the Equal Pay Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other legislation that guarantees workplaces free of discrimination.

What Does the EEOC Do?

The EEOC hears and adjudicates claims from federal employees who believe that their rights have been violated. Our EEOC attorneys from the Tampa Bay Area offices at Legal Lion Employment Law Firm can help you explore your legal options when you suffer from discriminatory actions and other forms of unlawful workplace behavior.

We can assist you in filing claims with the EEOC and work to help you secure the relief that you deserve. Our team is familiar with the EEOC complaint and hearing process and can help you navigate the system as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Looking for EEOC attorneys near you? If you are a federal employee and believe that your rights have been violated, call (813) 437-4447 or contact us online to discuss your options with us.

Guide to the EEOC Complaint Process

Federal employees are protected by a network of anti-discriminatory and anti-harassment statutes. Depending on where your agency is based, local and state laws can sometimes lend additional protections. Discriminatory behavior can take many forms. Some are obvious, while others may be less so.

Federal employees could suffer from:

Targeted abusive language
Exclusion from agency initiatives
Deliberate lack of advancement
Inadequate compensation
And more

In many cases, discriminatory behavior can be frustratingly challenging to prove. When you believe that you have been discriminated against, you must act quickly.

Federal employees generally only have 45 days from the date of the most recent discriminatory act to contact their agency’s EEOC representative and initiate a claim. Your complaint will typically be initially addressed informally before advancing to more formal, trial-like proceedings.

What to Expect During the EEOC Process

Our EEOC attorneys who are based out of our Tampa Bay Area offices can guide you through each step of the EEOC complaint process, including:

Efforts for Informal Resolution. In most cases, the EEOC will attempt to resolve an issue without a hearing. This can involve mediation, counseling, and alternative dispute resolution with the involved parties.
Investigation of the Formal Complaint. If early resolution efforts prove ineffective, a formal complaint will need to be filed, and the EEOC will conduct a thorough investigation of your allegations.
Participating in the EEOC Hearing. You will be expected to participate in a trial-like hearing before an EEOC judge. This proceeding will involve arguments from each party’s legal team, witness testimony, and examinations of all available evidence.
Understanding Appeals and Next Steps. Should a favorable outcome not be reached in your hearing, you may have the option of appealing your case through the Office of Federal Operations (OFO).

Should the EEOC process or an appeal not satisfactorily address your complaint, you may still have additional legal options. Many federal employees have the ability to file a lawsuit against an agency engaging in discriminatory behavior once they have gone through the administrative complaint process. Cases involving age discrimination and gendered pay gaps can potentially opt to circumvent the EEOC entirely. We can help you explore what makes the most sense for your case.

Have additional questions about the EEOC process? Call (813) 437-4447 or contact us online to discuss your options with a federal EEOC attorney in Tampa today!

Commonly Asked Questions

What should I do if I believe I have been discriminated against at work?

If you suspect that you have faced discrimination in the workplace, it is crucial to act promptly. Federal employees have a limited timeframe of 45 days from the date of the most recent discriminatory act to contact their agency's EEOC representative. This initial step is vital for initiating a claim. Documenting any incidents of discrimination, including dates, times, and details of the behavior, can strengthen your case. Our team in the Tampa Bay Area is here to guide you through this process, ensuring you understand your rights and options.

How does the EEOC complaint process work?

The EEOC complaint process begins when a federal employee contacts their agency's EEOC representative to report discrimination. Initially, the EEOC will attempt to resolve the issue informally through mediation or counseling. If these efforts do not yield satisfactory results, a formal complaint can be filed, leading to a thorough investigation of the allegations. If necessary, the case may proceed to a hearing where both parties present their arguments. Understanding each step of this process is essential, and our attorneys in the Tampa Bay Area can provide the support you need.

Your Local Resource for EEOC Support in the Tampa Bay Area

In the vibrant communities of the Tampa Bay Area, including St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and the surrounding neighborhoods, federal employees often face unique challenges when it comes to workplace discrimination. Local government entities, such as the Tampa Bay Area Regional Planning Council and the City of Tampa's Office of Human Resources, are dedicated to promoting fair employment practices and can provide valuable resources for those seeking assistance.

As a federal employee in this region, you may encounter specific pain points, such as navigating the complexities of the EEOC process while balancing your daily responsibilities. The pressure of proving discrimination can be overwhelming, especially when you are already dealing with the stress of your job. Our team combines deep knowledge of the local landscape with experience in federal employment law to guide you through even the most complex challenges with confidence.

If you are a federal employee in the Tampa Bay Area facing discrimination, don’t hesitate to reach out. We are dedicated to helping you pursue justice.

Who Can Pursue a Claim with the EEOC?

All federal employees have the right to file a claim with the EEOC if they believe that they have been discriminated against or retaliated against as a result of their belonging to a protected class. Claimants have the ability to pursue monetary damages and other forms of compensation, including the reinstatement of their positions if they were wrongfully terminated.

EEOC complaints can assist federal employees who have been discriminated against as a result of their:

Age
Color
Disability or perceived disability
Familial Status
Gender Identity
National Origin
Pregnancy
Race
Sexual Orientation

Assisting You with FMLA-Related Disability Discrimination

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows qualifying federal employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, protected leave per year to manage health conditions and other family responsibilities, such as an ill loved one. During this time, your federal agency is required to maintain your health benefits and cannot terminate, demote, or otherwise retaliate against you for taking your protected leave.

Many federal employees that live with disabilities regularly utilize FMLA leave. When an employer attempts to deny or dissuade you from exercising your FMLA-protected leave, they may be engaging in a form of disability discrimination. Our legal team can serve as your advocate in these situations and help you pursue a complaint with the EEOC, which regularly handles FMLA-related conflicts involving disabilities.

What Are the Benefits to Pursuing an EEO Complaint?

No one should have to endure any act of workplace discrimination or harassment. When discriminatory and inappropriate behavior goes unaddressed, bad-faith actors can imperil your career advancement, reputation, and safety. By bringing an EEO complaint to the EEOC, you have the opportunity to reverse negative consequences, hold offending parties accountable, and recover damages.

Our team at Legal Lion Employment Law Firm can work to get you the relief you need when filing an EEOC complaint. The EEOC can elect to grant you equitable relief, meaning you will be reassigned or will have your job responsibilities shifted to avoid a continuing hostile work situation.

If discriminatory behavior resulted in improper disciplinary action against you, those records can be removed from your OPF. Complaints involving pay gaps and unlawful non-advancements may result in the issuing of back pay. Depending on the nature and severity of the complaint, you could even be offered compensatory damages to address the pain and suffering you experienced as well as any injuries to your reputation.

After reviewing the facts of your case, we can help you understand your legal options. Our EEOC lawyers who are located at our Tampa Bay Area office will vigorously represent you at each stage of the alternative dispute resolution, investigation, and hearing processes and do everything possible to get you the relief that you need and deserve.

Schedule a free initial consultation with our team if you believe you have been discriminated against at your federal agency. Call (813) 437-4447 or contact us online to speak with an attorney near you!

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