New York City is bound by City, State, and Federal equal employment laws. The EEPC monitors City agencies' compliance with all three sets of regulations to ensure equal employment practices throughout the City.

City Laws
State Laws
Federal Laws (from the Legal Information Institute)
Contact Information for a Formal Complaint

New York City's EEO Laws

New York City Commission on Human Rights

The New York City Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations based on race, color, creed, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender (including gender identity and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, disability, or marital status. In addition, the Law affords protection against discrimination in employment based on arrest or conviction record and status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking, and sex offenses. In housing, the Law affords additional protections based on lawful occupation and family status. The City Human Rights Law also prohibits retaliation and bias-related harassment.

The New York City Human Rights Law charges the CCHR with the purpose of advancing New York City's human rights goals. Consistent with this objective, the statute grants the CCHR the authority to work with other government agencies and various groups and organizations in an effort to meet those goals, to study the problems of prejudice and discrimination, and to issue reports and publications designed to reduce or eliminate those problems and to promote good will.

The CCHR is further charged with the power and the duty to receive, investigate, and make determinations with respect to complaints of discrimination and initiate its own investigations of group tensions, prejudice, or discrimination against any person or group of persons.

Visit the New York City Commission on Human Rights site

EEO Policy Statement

The City's Equal Employment Opportunity Policy is consistent with federal, state, and local law. It includes the city's anti-discrimination policies and complaint and investigation procedures. The EEOP includes training, accountability, and reporting requirements for agency heads, managers, and supervisors.

Visit the Department of Citywide Administrative Services site

New York State's EEO Laws

New York State Human Rights Law

New York State's comprehensive antidiscrimination statute is know as the New York State Human Rights Law. Under the Human Rights Law it is an "unlawful discriminatory practice" for an employer "to refuse to hire or employ or to bar or to discharge from employment" or "to discriminate against an individual in compensation or in terms of conditions or privileges of employment" because of an individual's age, race, creed, color, national origin, sex, disability, or marital status.

The New York State Human Rights Law charges the Division of Human Rights to investigate and resolve complaints of discrimination aggressively, fairly, and expeditiously; promote human rights throughout the State through education, conciliation, persuasion, conflict prevention and resolution, and other affirmative measures; develop, articulate, and advocate human rights policy and legislation for the State; act as a resource to assist public and private entities in preventing or eliminating discrimination; and provide leadership by reaching out to civil rights, human rights, and community groups to coordinate efforts to preserve and promote a human rights agenda.

Visit the State Division of Human Rights site

If you believe that you have experienced unlawful discrimination you have a right to file a formal complaint with the federal, state, or local agencies listed below.

The federal, state, and local agencies listed below enforce laws against discrimination and investigate individual claims of discrimination. The statutory time period for the timely filing of charges of discrimination measured from the occurrence of the discriminatory action is also listed:

New York City Commission on Human Rights
40 Rector Street
New York, NY 10006

(212) 306-7450

Statutory time period: One year (NYC Administrative Code, Title 8, Chapter 1).

New York State Division of Human Rights
Bronx (Headquarters)
One Fordham Plaza, 4th Floor
Bronx, NY, 10458 

Phone: (718) 741-8400
TDD: 1-718-741-8300

Statutory time period: One year (New York Executive Law, Article 15 '297(5); see also '297(9) (may also file civil action first, but administrative action is then precluded).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
New York District Office
33 Whitehall Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10004

Phone: 1-800-669-4000
Fax: 212-336-3790
TTY: 1-800-669-6820

Statutory time period: 180 days, unless a proceeding involving the same acts is instituted first before the New York State Division of Human Rights or New York City Commission on Human Rights. In that case, filing with the EEOC must occur within 300 days. It is advisable to file before the expiration of 240 days because of a requirement that a complaint must be deferred to a local or state anti-discrimination agency for 60 days or within 30 days after receiving notice that the State Division or the City Commission has terminated the proceedings under state or local law, whichever is earlier (42 LJ.S.C '2000e-5(e)).

Additionally, City employees or applicants for City employment have a right to file a complaint of employment discrimination with the Agency EEO Officer. To find the appropriate EEO Officer, click here.