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!
