Include the following in your complaint letter: Your name, address and telephone number. The name, address, and telephone number of your attorney or authorized representative, if you are represented. The basis of your complaint. The date(s) that the incident(s) you are reporting as discrimination occurred.
Complaints under state law must be filed within 180 days of the date you became aware you were being discriminated against or the date of the alleged illegal act. You may file a complaint with the Commission by calling (804) 225-2292, visiting the office at 900 E.
The Virginia Human Rights Act (Title 2.2, Chapter 39 of the Virginia Code) protects employees against employment-based discrimination on the basis of certain characteristics, such as race, national origin, and pregnancy.
Report discrimination to a local Fair Employment Practices Agency (FEPA). If the discrimination breaks both a state and federal law, the FEPA will also send your complaint to the EEOC. Use the EEOC's directory of field offices to find the FEPA near you.
Complaints can be filed with the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health program, part of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, in two ways: By filling out a form at
Wronged employees have three ways of proving their employers intended to discriminate: circumstantial evidence, direct evidence, and pattern and practice. Circumstantial evidence is evidence that proves a fact by inference, as opposed to direct evidence which directly proves a fact.
However, discrimination is a state of mind and, therefore, notoriously hard to prove. Sophisticated employers are well aware that discrimination is illegal. Thus, most cases are established through circumstantial evidence.
Evidence takes several forms. It includes your testimony, which is the very first evidence gathered by EEOC. It also includes written materials such as evaluations, notes by your employer, letters, memos, and the like. You will be asked to provide any documents you may have that relate to your case.
The discrimination complaint process consists of two phases: the Informal Stage and the Formal Stage. You must initiate contact with an ORMDI EEO counselor within 45 days of the date of the alleged act of discrimination by calling 888-566-3982 or visiting your local ORMDI District Office.