What federal agency is responsible for enforcing laws against employment discrimination?

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is the federal agency tasked with enforcing laws against employment discrimination. It administers and enforces federal civil rights laws that prohibit job discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information. The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints, facilitates mediation between parties, and can file lawsuits against employers on behalf of individuals.

Understanding the specific roles of each agency helps clarify why the EEOC is the correct response. For instance, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) primarily deals with national security and criminal law enforcement rather than workplace discrimination. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is focused on ensuring safe and healthful working conditions by enforcing standards related to occupational safety, not discrimination laws. Meanwhile, the Department of Labor oversees various labor laws and protections, but it does not specifically handle discrimination laws in the same manner as the EEOC does. This distinction reinforces the vital role that the EEOC plays in addressing employment discrimination within the workforce.