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. 

Timeliness

A charge must be filed with EEOC within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation, in order to protect the charging party's rights. This 180-day filing deadline may be extended to 300 days if the charge also is covered by a state or local anti-discrimination law. These time limits do not apply to claims under the Equal Pay Act, because under that Act persons do not have to first file a charge with EEOC in order to have the right to go to court. However, since many EPA claims also raise Title VII sex discrimination issues, it may be advisable to file charges under both laws within the time limits indicated.

Birmingham District Office Information

In the State of Alabama, an individual has 180 days from the date of alleged harm to file a charge with this office against an employer with 15 or more employees for discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, and/or disability. An individual has 180 days from the date of alleged harm to file a charge with this office against an employer with 20 or more employees for discrimination based on age.

In the State of Mississippi, an individual has 180 days from the date of alleged harm to file a charge with this office against an employer with 15 or more employees for discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, and/or disability. An individual has 180 days from the date of alleged harm to file a charge with this office against an employer with 20 or more employees for discrimination based on age.

In the State of Florida, an individual has 300 days from the date of alleged harm to file a charge with this office against an employer with 15 or more employees for discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, and/or disability. An individual has 300 days from the date of alleged harm to file a charge with this office against an employer with 20 or more employees for discrimination based on age.

To protect your legal rights, it is always best to contact EEOC promptly when discrimination is suspected.