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  3. Boston Area Office
  4. Filing a Charge

Please be advised that due to the current health situation, you have the option to schedule an in-office interview which will be conducted by video using EEOC office equipment or schedule an interview by phone. Individuals who come into the office 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 an in-office interview which will be conducted by video using EEOC office equipment. 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.

 

 

Filing a Charge

If you believe you have been discriminated against by an employer, labor union or employment agency when applying for a job or while on the job because of your race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information, or believe that you have been discriminated against because of opposing a prohibited practice or participating in an equal employment opportunity matter, you may file a charge of discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). All laws enforced by EEOC, (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), except the Equal Pay Act (EPA), require filing a charge with EEOC before a private lawsuit may be filed in court.
To protect your legal rights, it is always best to contact EEOC promptly when discrimination is suspected. There are strict time limits within which charges must be filed. Please review the information about filing deadlines for your particular state by selecting "timeliness" from the menu on the left.

Charge Filing Procedures

You can begin the process by accessing EEOC's Public Portal and submitting an inquiry. An inquiry is typically your first contact with the EEOC regarding your concerns about possible employment discrimination. You will be asked a few questions to help determine if EEOC is the right federal agency to handle your complaint. It's a quick and easy way to find out if EEOC can address your situation.

Submitting an online inquiry is not the same as filing a charge of discrimination with EEOC. Once you submit an inquiry through the EEOC Public Portal, you will able to schedule an intake interview with an EEOC staff member. The interview can be in-person or by telephone. During the intake interview, you and an EEOC staff member will confidentially discuss the information you have provided, as well as your rights and responsibilities under the laws we enforce, our investigative process, and what happens after you file a charge. The interview will provide you with sufficient information to determine whether to proceed with filing a charge of discrimination.

If you decide to visit our office rather than use the online system, keep in mind that walk-ins are seen on a first come first serve basis. Although less time may be required, you should allow at least 1 to 2 hours for an office visit.

If you have questions about the laws we enforce or would like general information you can contact an EEOC representative on our toll-free number at 1-800-669-4000 assistance is provided in both English and Spanish. For individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and whose primary language is American Sign Language (ASL) we provide access through Videophone at 844-234-5122. We can also be reached via TTY at 1-800-669-6820.