US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is the federal agency that enforces Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other employment-related anti-discrimination laws. On the EEOC Overview webpage, the EEOC describes itself as being responsible for:

Enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. It is also illegal to discriminate against a person because the person complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit.

Most employers with at least 15 employees are covered by EEOC laws (20 employees in age discrimination cases). Most labor unions and employment agencies are also covered.

The laws apply to all types of work situations, including hiring, firing, promotions, harassment, training, wages, and benefits.

The EEOC also publishes policy guidance on how to follow the ADA.

Related Resources

Articles (12) Blogs (10) News (30) Webinars (2)

Articles

The ADA and Employers
This article explains essential employment-related terms and concepts in the Americans with Disabili...
What Is the Americans with Disabilities Act?
The ADA defines disability and has five titles (sections) that forbid a wide range of discrimination...
Who Is Protected by the ADA?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects the civil rights of people with disabilities, but...
Health care provider as employer
The role of a health care provider as an employer cannot be overlooked.
Disability-Related Inquiries
Find out what (and when) an employer can ask a job applicant or employee about disability.

Blogs

The ADA and Collective Bargaining Issues
This blog post discusses union obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It also...
Employers and the ADA: Myths and Facts
Including people with disabilities gives businesses a competitive edge. Below are some of the common...
Workplace Bullying, Harassment, and Disability
Information about bullying experienced by people with disabilities
Service Animals at Work in the Human Workplace
Explore some of the nuances in the regulations around allowing service animals in the workplace
Online on the Job: Employers and Web Access
There is a growing awareness of the need for web sites to be accessible.

News

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION: USA Parking Services to Pay $150,000 to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Lawsuit
03/20/2019- USA Parking Services, Inc., a hospitality industry-focused valet and parking company, will pay $150,000 to settle the disability discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity...
EEOC Scores $2.7M Disability Bias Deal for Sample Servers
12/18/2019- A company that provides retailers with food sample demonstrators agreed to pay nearly $2.7 million to resolve a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit claiming it violated federal anti-d...
EEOC Helps Veterans Understand Their Employment Rights Under ADA
11/20/2019- Veterans Day - a federal holiday observed annually on November 11 to honor the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces - is an appropriate time for veterans who have returned t...
What Was The EEOC Up To This Year? Takeaways From 2017
01/17/2018- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's fiscal year ended on Sept. 30, 2017 and it has released its yearly "Performance and Accountability Report." Although this is a look back, it provides...
UPCO Will Pay $106,000 For Disability Discrimination
06/21/2017- A Claremore, Okla.-based manufacturer of sucker rods and accessories for the oil and gas industry will pay $106,000 and furnish other relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit brought by th...

Webinars

The state of Employment for People with Disabilities: Opportunities and Challenges with Social Media and Employment
05/27/2015- It is more and more common that employers recruit, screen, and conduct much of the hiring process online. While this has given employers new ways of finding workers, it has presented challenges for em...
Northeast ADA Center Year in Review 2020
01/28/2021- While COVID-19 was certainly one of the largest stories of 2020, other ADA items of note happened as well. Join the technical assistance team of the Northeast ADA Center as they review the year 2020....