U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Updated 2026-05-17

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a federal agency responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information.

The EEOC investigates charges of discrimination, makes findings, and attempts to resolve disputes. It also issues mandatory workplace notices, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law Poster, to inform employees and applicants of their rights under these laws.

Key statutes enforced by the EEOC include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Equal Pay Act (EPA). The principles of anti-discrimination promoted by the EEOC align with broader federal anti-discrimination efforts, such as those found in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), particularly concerning Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).