Business & Work

Workplace discrimination is against the law when it happens because you are a member of a protected class A group of people who get special protection against discrimination . A protected class is a group of people that have something in common and are protected by the law.

There are several government organizations that protect workers from workplace discrimination. These organizations are:

• US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) (Federal),
• Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) (Illinois),
• Cook County Commission on Human Rights (CCCHR) (Cook County), and
• Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR) (Chicago).

Each agency protects different classes of people. They also have different rules about time limits and who you can file against.

US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

March 2025 update: Recent actions by the EEOC suggest a shift in enforcement priorities. In February 2025, the EEOC dropped several cases about workplace discrimination against transgender people and made statements about a larger policy shift. The Acting EEOC Chair said the agency’s focus will include cases that defend “the biological and binary reality of sex” and challenge “DEI-motivated race and sex discrimination.” Also, in January 2025, the EEOC said it is reviewing and removing materials “promoting gender ideology” from its website. This is a complicated area of law. If you need help, you may want to speak to an attorney.

The EEOC enforces federal discrimination laws. They also help settle To resolve a case before finishing a trial disputes between employers and employees. In Illinois, you have 300 days from the last incident to file a charge with the EEOC. 

You can file a claim or "charge" of discrimination with the EEOC if you believe you were treated unfairly at work based on:

• Race,
• Color,
• Religion,
• National origin,
• Age (40 or over),
• Sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity),
• Disability A substantial impairment that functionally limits a person in carrying out major life activities, such as walking, lifting, seeing, or learning. , or
• Genetic information.

You must file a charge of discrimination with the EEOC before you can file a federal workplace discrimination lawsuit, unless your lawsuit falls under the Equal Pay Act.

Generally, the EEOC does not handle claims against employers with fewer than 15 employees. The employer must have had at least 15 employees who worked for the employer for at least 20 calendar weeks either in the year of the violation or in the year before.

If you are a federal government employee or applicant, the process for filing a complaint A written statement to start a lawsuit that says what the defendant did is different. Learn more on the EEOC website. 

Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR)

The IDHR deals with discrimination anywhere in Illinois. You have 300 days from the last incident to file with the IDHR. Starting on January 1, 2025, you will have 2 years to file a charge with IDHR.

The Illinois Human Rights Act applies to employers with one or more employees. The employer must have one employee for at least 20 weeks in the violation year, or the year before the violation. Weeks and years are determined by calendar weeks and years. You are protected from discrimination based on:

• Race,
• Color,
• Religion,
• Sex,
• Sexual harassment,
• National origin,
• Ancestry,
• Military status,
• Age (40 or over),
• Order of protection A document from a judge that tells an abuser to stop further domestic abuse, or face penalties status,
• Physical or mental disability,
• Marital status,
• Sexual orientation (including gender-related identity),
• Unfavorable military discharge,
• Arrest record,
• Conviction record,
• Citizenship status,
• Work authorization status,
• Family responsibilities (effective January 1, 2025),
• Language (not related to job duties),
• Pregnancy,
• Reproductive health decisions (effective January 1, 2025),
• Retaliation Punishing a person for doing something that is legally protected (for opposing discrimination), or
• Coercion/aiding and abetting (helping or forcing someone to commit unlawful discrimination).

Cook County Commission on Human Rights (CCCHR)

The CCCHR handles claims against employers in Cook County. You have 180 days from the last incident to file a claim with the CCCHR. Your employer must have at least 1 employee.

The CCCHR enforces Cook County Human Rights Ordinance A law or rule made by a local government like a town or city , which protects employees from discrimination based on:

• Race (including traits associated with race, such as hair texture and protective styles),
• Color,
• Sex,
• Age,
• Religion,
• Disability,
• National origin,
• Ancestry,
• Ethnicity,
• Sexual orientation,
• Marital status,
• Parental status,
• Pregnancy status,
• Military discharge status,
• Source of income (including use of a Housing Choice Voucher),
• Housing status,
• Gender identity,
• Criminal history,
• Bodily autonomy,
• Pregnancy status,
• Caste, or
• The actual or perceived association with such a person.

Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR)

The CCHR handles claims against employers in Chicago. You have 365 days from the last incident to file a claim with the CCHR. Your employer must have at least 1 employee.

The CCHR enforces the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance, which protects employees from discrimination based on:

• Age (over 40),
• Ancestry,
• Bodily autonomy,
• Color,
• Credit history,
• Criminal history,
• Disability,
• Gender identity,
• Marital status,
• Military status,
• National origin,
• Parental status,
• Race,
• Religion,
• Retaliation (for complaining about discrimination)
• Retaliation (under the Hotel Workers’ Ordinance),
• Sex (including pregnancy and sexual harassment),
• Sexual orientation, or
• Source of income.

How do I decide where to file?