Please be advised that, you have the option to schedule a telephone interview, an interview by video with an EEOC representative, or an in-person interview at our office.  Individuals who come into the office without an appointment will be screened for appropriate follow-up. Scheduling an interview is strongly recommended and individuals with appointments will be given priority.  

You are encouraged to visit the EEOC Public Portal (https://publicportal.eeoc.gov/) to schedule an intake appointment by telephone, by video or in-person.   The system can also be accessed by going directly to our website at https://www.eeoc.gov/. 

There are strict deadlines for filing a charge of discrimination, please review the information in the timeliness tab or call 1-800-669-4000. 

For individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, you can reach EEOC by videophone at 1-844-234-5122. If you have a disability which prevents you from accessing the Public Portal or you otherwise have difficulty with accessing the portal, please call 1-800-669-4000. 

For information on temporary office closures due to inclement weather or other issues, see our Operating Status page. 

 

Timeliness

A charge must be filed with EEOC within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation, in order to protect the charging party's rights. This 180-day filing deadline may be extended to 300 days if the charge also is covered by a state or local anti-discrimination law. These time limits do not apply to claims under the Equal Pay Act, because under that Act persons do not have to first file a charge with EEOC in order to have the right to go to court. However, since many EPA claims also raise Title VII sex discrimination issues, it may be advisable to file charges under both laws within the time limits indicated.

Seattle Field Office Information

An individual has 300 days from the date of alleged harm to file a charge with this office against an employer with 15 or more employees for discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, and/or disability in the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. An individual has 300 days from the date of alleged harm to file a charge with this office against an employer with 20 or more employees for discrimination based on age in the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

Charges against employers of less than 15 employees (for race, color, national origin, sex, religion, and/or disability) or less than 20 employees (for age) must be filed with the appropriate state or local agency within the time limits prescribed by state or local laws. These time limits are: 300 days to file with the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights, 180 days to file with the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission, 365 days to file with the Idaho State Commission for Human Rights, 180 days to file with the Montana Human Rights Commission, 365 days to file with the Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries, Civil Rights Division, 180 days to file with the Washington State Human Rights Commission, one year to file with the Seattle Office for Civil Rights and 180 days with the Tacoma Human Rights and Human Services Department.

To protect your legal rights, it is always best to contact EEOC promptly when discrimination is suspected.