Government Agencies
& Links
Almost all discrimination claims require presentment to a state or federal administrative agency before a lawsuit can be filed. In Massachusetts, the Commission Against Discrimination is charged with the enforcement of claims under Massachusetts omnibus civil rights statute, M.G.L. c. 151B-et seq. Employment discrimination claims must be filed within 300 days of the last wrong. Further, in order to meet the jurisdictional requirement concerning the definition of an employee, the employer complained of must employ at least six or more employees. For further information, go to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination webpage.
At the federal level, The United States Equal Employment Commission is charged with the enforcement of federal anti-discrimination laws, which include the Americans With Disabilities Act ( ADA ), 42 U.S.C. § 12101- et seq, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act ( ADEA ), 29 U.C.S. 621-et seq. and race and sex discrimination claims ( Title VII, 1964 Civil Rights Act ), 42 U.S.C 2000(e)-et seq., among others. The statutes of limitations and jurisdictional requirements with respect to the number of employees are different under federal law. For additional information, go to eeoc.gov.
Violations of wage and hour laws at the state level are within the jurisdiction of the Office of the Attorney General. For further information, go to ma.gov and scroll down to the Attorney General's page. At the federal level, violation of federal labor laws are enforced by the United States Department of Labor. For further information, go to dol.gov.