The Birmingham office is closed for construction until May 26, 2026.  

The Birmingham Office operates Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding federal holidays, and during inclement weather. At this time, only video and phone appointments are accepted. Appointments are available at 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 1:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, except federal holidays. Individuals who are late (15 minutes or more) for their video or telephone appointment and/or cannot be reached by telephone, may have to reschedule. Individuals who are close to their statute of limitations (i.e., the legal time one must file a charge of discrimination) are given priority.

If you have a disability which prevents you from accessing the EEOC Public Portal, or you otherwise have difficulty with accessing the portal, you may call (205) 651-7020 for assistance. It is monitored daily by staff and allows fluid daily feedback to stakeholders. Office staff are teleworking and can be reached at (205) 651-7020 or by email at birmintake@eeoc.gov.  

If your call is directed to our voice message system, please say and spell your first and last name; the number where you can be reached between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30p.m.; provide an email address if you have one; and a brief description of your issue or problem.

Please be advised that, you have the option to schedule a telephone interview, an interview by video with an EEOC representative.  Individuals without an appointment will be screened for appropriate follow-up. Scheduling an interview is strongly recommended and individuals with appointments will be given priority.  

You are encouraged to visit the EEOC Public Portal (https://publicportal.eeoc.gov/) to schedule an intake appointment by telephone or video. The system can also be accessed by going directly to our website at https://www.eeoc.gov/. 

There are strict deadlines for filing a charge of discrimination, please review the information in the timeliness tab or call 1-800-669-4000. 

For individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, you can reach EEOC by videophone at 1-844-234-5122. If you have a disability which prevents you from accessing the Public Portal or you otherwise have difficulty with accessing the portal, please call 1-800-669-4000. 

For information on temporary office closures due to inclement weather or other issues, see our Operating Status page. 

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, the EEOC maintains public reading areas at its headquarters library and in each of its District Offices that are available to the public by appointment. The public reading areas contain the information listed below. This same information is available at the Commission's Field, Area and Local offices, but these offices are not required to have designated reading areas for the public unless space permits.
The EEOC's District, Field, Area and Local offices maintain the following materials for public inspection:

  1. Blank EEOC forms relating to the Commission's procedures as they affect the public;
  2. EEOC's annual reports to Congress;
  3. EEOC's Compliance Manual and Index;
  4. Federal Register notices published by the Commission; and
  5. EEOC Orders (agency directives), Supplements, and Notices.

Requests for the following types of records will be processed by the appropriate field office:

  1. information about current or former employees of a field office;
  2. existing non-confidential statistical data related to the case processing of a field office;
  3. agreements between the Commission and State or local Fair employment agencies operating within the jurisdiction of a field office; or
  4. materials in field office investigative files related to charges under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.); the Equal Pay Act (29 U.S.C. 206(d)); the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. 621 et seq.); or, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.); or Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 2000ff et seq.); or, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2022 (42 U.S.C 2000gg).

For information on how to submit FOIA requests for these types of records, see FOIA Requests and Appeals.

  • Requests for any other records or for records whose location is unknown to the requester, must be submitted in writing to the Assistant Legal Counsel FOIA Programs, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 131 M Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20507. Additional information, including instructions on how to file a FOIA request, is available in EEOC's Freedom of Information Act Reference Guide.

SECTION 83, DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION IN CHARGE FILES

Special Disclosure Rules

The special disclosure rules discussed in § 1610.17(g) of 29 C.F.R. are contained in Section 83 of the Commission's Compliance Manual. Section 83 is another means for aggrieved parties, charging parties respondents, and their attorneys to access their own charge files after the Commission has completed its proceedings on a charge. Aggrieved and charging parties and their attorneys can request access by submitting a signed written request during the 90-day Notice of Right to Sue period or when a lawsuit is pending. Respondents and their attorneys can request access by submitting a signed written request after an aggrieved charging party has filed suit.

A Section 83 request will be processed more quickly, but you will not receive an explanation of why certain information in the file was withheld, if any, and you will not have the right to appeal the decision to withhold the information.

Agency FOIA Contacts