How does the EEOC resolve discrimination charges?

The EEOC has a number of investigators and if you make a claim you would be assigned a case number and they would try to do several things. There’s mediation, which is a short circuited litigation process. It’s not binding and it’s voluntary and it’s often early in the process. So if they believe you have a strong case, they may trigger the mediation clause and you can go in with the employer and try to resolve your case on a more informal basis without engaging in long, protracted litigation. Also, if the EEOC investigates and believe that you do have a claim, they can issue what’s called a right to sue letter and you can actually take your claim out of the EEOC and file in a federal or state court. So the EEOC is the first step in the resolution process.