You can report workplace discrimination in 4 different places:

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

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

United States

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

Federal discrimination laws that the EEOC enforces cover the below reasons for discrimination:

• Race,
• Religion,
• National origin,
• Age (40 or over),
• Sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity),
• Disability, and
• Genetic information.

You must file your claim with the EEOC if:

• Your company is part of the federal government; or
• You plan to file a federal claim, if your case is not resolved at the EEOC, and 
• Your employer has more than 15 employees.*

*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.

Illinois

The IDHR deals with discrimination anywhere in Illinois. You have 300 days from the last incident to file with the IDHR.

The Illinois Human Rights Act protects employees whose employer has 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,
• National origin,
• Ancestry,
• Age,
• Sex,
• Marital status,
• Order of protection status,
• Disability,
• Association with a person with a disability,
• Military status,
• Sexual orientation,
• Sexual harassment,
• Work authorization status, or
• Unfavorable discharge from military service.

Cook County 

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, which protects employees from discrimination based on:

• Race,
• Color,
• Sex,
• Age,
• Religion,
• Disability,
• National origin,
• Ancestry,
• Sexual orientation,
• Marital status,
• Parental status,
• Military discharge status,
• Source of income (including use of a Housing Choice Voucher),
• Housing status, 
• Gender identity, or
• Criminal history.

Chicago

The CCHR handles claims against employers in Chicago. You have 180 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:

• Race,
• Color,
• National origin,
• Ancestry,
• Religion,
• Disability,
• Age (over 40),
• Sex,
• Sexual orientation,
• Gender identity,
• Parental status,
• Marital status,
• Military discharge status, or
• Source of income.

What if I can file in multiple places?