Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a federal government agency established by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Its mission is to prevent and remedy unlawful employment discrimination and advance equal employment opportunity by enforcing federal laws that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.

The agency operates through its Washington, D.C. headquarters and 53 field offices nationwide. It exercises jurisdiction over most employers with 15 or more employees, as well as labor unions, employment agencies, and government entities. The EEOC carries out its mandate through investigation, conciliation, mediation, and litigation.

In fiscal year 2024, the EEOC handled 88,531 charges of workplace discrimination and secured nearly $700 million for over 21,000 victims, marking the highest monetary recovery in its recent history. The agency also filed 111 merits suits and conducted thousands of outreach and training events to support fair employment practices.