Definition - What does Equal Employment Opportunity Commission mean?
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a United States government agency that was created in 1964 during the Civil Rights Movement. This agency is responsible for enforcing the laws that are associated with discrimination prevention and equality in the workplace. Employers must comply with the anti-discrimination laws of the United States, or else they can face repercussions from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. However, despite the fact that the EEOC is concerned with upholding equal employment laws, it can still only act through the court system through lawsuits. In other words, it cannot administer justice independently.
SureHire explains Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is responsible for enforcing a number of laws, including the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Pay Act, and others. Its laws covers most employers with 15 or more employees, along with most labor unions and employment agencies.
The EEOC has the authority to investigate charges of discrimination. If the EEOC finds that discrimination has occurred, it will try to either settle the issue, or file a lawsuit against the company in the interests of protecting individual and public interests. It is the primary concern of the EEOC to keep the playing field level for employment and to make sure that certain groups of people are not discriminated against. These groups include disabled people, minorities, homosexual people, pregnant women, and others.
