The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has published proposed changes to its procedural regulations that would, among other things, explicitly allow individuals to file charges of discrimination online. The proposed changes represent the latest step in the agency’s ongoing effort to fully digitize its charge handling procedures.
The proposed revisions would also clarify the deadline for filing a charge with the EEOC where the state or local law enforced by a recognized state or local Fair Employment Practices (FEP) agency does not cover the particular basis of discrimination alleged. In addition, the proposed changes aim to more clearly communicate that a “no cause” finding by the EEOC does not necessarily mean that the claims raised in the charge lack merit.
Importantly, the EEOC’s proposed changes would only affect the procedures under which the agency receives and processes charges of discrimination, and would not substantively change the way the EEOC interprets a particular statute.
The EEOC will be accepting public comments on its proposal until April 23, 2019.
Members of the Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC) can read more here.