The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, standardizes the time limits for Tennessee residents who want to file a charge against an employer. Paying attention to the details of the employment law is critical to resolving your charge of discrimination.
There are 180 or 300 calendar days for filing
One of the most confusing aspects of anti-discrimination cases is the statute of limitations. The EEOC specifies a 180-day limit for making a charge of discrimination. The clock starts ticking on the day that the incident occurred. However, the 180 days may become 300 calendar days if your state has a similar law.
Age discrimination has its own rules
In the case of age discrimination, employment law statutes come into play. You can only expect a 300-day filing deadline if state law specifically addresses age discrimination and an official agency enforces the law. If both elements are not in play, stick to the 180-day rule.
Federal employees and job applicants follow a different timeline
If the discrimination happened to a federal employee or a job applicant trying to secure a position with a federal agency, the filing deadline is 45 days. Although there are some mechanisms by which it is possible to extend this deadline, it is a bad idea to rely on them.
Do not let time run out
When you recognize that discrimination happened, it is a good idea to file right away. While many companies tell you that they have grievance resolution procedures in place, you do not have to follow them to the exclusion of the EEOC filing. Moreover, you do not want to find yourself in a situation where time runs out while you are in the middle of an arbitration case.
Because employment law can be difficult to navigate, it might be a good idea to discuss your discrimination case with a lawyer. A professional may help ensure that you meet the filing deadline and complete all paperwork correctly.