EEOC and PHRA, Pittsburgh Human Rights Commission and the Allegheny County Human Rights Commission

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Some claims such as discrimination claims based on age, race, color, ethnicity, disability, and sex, and sexual harassment claims must first be filed in the EEOC, a federal agency with offices in Pittsburgh, before you can get your day in court.   The time restrictions on filing are rigid and short. Charges alleging illegal discrimination must initially be filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 300 days of the alleged discrimination, or the last incident of discrimination or harassment. Make sure you contact Fried Law Offices early, for affordable representation. The EEOC website is http://www.eeoc.gov .To find out more about the Pittsburgh office: http://www.eeoc.gov/field/pittsburgh/index.cfm

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations and the Allegheny County Human Relations Commission:

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) enforces the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act which protects the rights of Pennsylvania residents to be free from workplace, housing, and public accommodation discrimination, based on race, color, familial status, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, handicap or disability, pregnancy or use of guide or support animal. You must file a complaint within 180 days of the last incident of discrimination or harassment.

The Pittsburgh CHR enforces the Pittsburgh City Code whose Fair Practices provisions make it unlawful to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, family status, age, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, sex, sexual orientation and non-job-related handicap or disability in employment, housing and public accommodations.  If you believe you have been discriminated against because you are gay, lesbian, or bisexual you will have to file with the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, because neither the EEOC nor the PHRC protects against sexual orientation discrimination. You must file your complaint no later than one year from the date of the last alleged unlawful discriminatory practice. For more information see their website at http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us.

Allegheny County recently approved the Allegheny County Human Relations Ordinance, which is legislation that bans discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. The new Ordinance provides the broadest support in the Commonwealth for gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered individuals employed or living within Allegheny County who have experienced discrimination. For the text of the Ordinance go to:  http://legistar.county.allegheny.pa.us/detailreport/Reports/Temp/11102009172058.pdf