An employee feels discriminated against by his employer, based on his religion. Who must he approach before filing a lawsuit against the employer? Describe the process

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

If a person believes that he or she has been discriminated against in the workplace, he or she cannot immediately file a lawsuit against the employer. The complainant must first file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC often requests that the parties try to resolve their dispute through mediation. If mediation does not work, the EEOC will investigate the charge. If the EEOC finds a violation, it will decide whether to sue the employer. If the EEOC sues the employer, the complainant cannot sue the employer. In this case, the EEOC represents the complainant. If the EEOC finds a violation and chooses not to bring suit, or does not find a violation, the EEOC will issue a right to sue letter to the complainant. This gives the complainant the right to sue his or her employer. If a state has a Fair Employment Practices Agency (FEPA), the complainant may file his or her claim with the FEPA instead of the EEOC. Often a complainant will file a complaint with a FEPA if state law provides protection from discrimination not covered by federal laws or if the FEPA's procedure permits a filing date that is longer than that of the EEOC. The FEPA complaint process is similar to that of the EEOC.