The mission of the EEOC, as set forth in its strategic plan, is to promote equal opportunity in employment through administrative and judicial enforcement of the federal civil rights laws, education and technical assistance.
Overview
The EEOC carries out its work at headquarters and in 50 field offices throughout the United States. Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against in employment begin the processes by filing administrative charges. Individual Commissioners may also initiate charges that the law has been violated. Through the investigation of charges, if the EEOC determines there is "reasonable cause" to believe that discrimination has occurred, it must then seek to conciliate the charge to reach a voluntary resolution between the charging party and the respondent. If conciliation is not successful, the EEOC may bring suit in federal court. Whenever the EEOC concludes its processing of a case, or earlier upon the request of a charging party, it issues a "notice of right to sue" which enables the charging party to bring an individual action in court. …show more content…
However, no statements made by any party during the conciliation process can be used in any subsequent lawsuit. The conciliation process is not a prerequisite for an individual to file a lawsuit in state or federal court. Under the ADEA, the employee must merely wait 60 days after filing a charge with the EEOC and the appropriate state agency before filing a lawsuit against the employer. Title VII and the ADA require the EEOC to issue a "Notice of Right to Sue," also known as a "right to sue letter," before an individual can file a suit in court. The right to sue letter can be issued at the complaining party's request or by the EEOC following its disposition of a discrimination charge. The employee has 90 days after receiving the right to sue letter to file