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Discrimination Complaint Management

The Unit manages the state’s internal discrimination complaint process and system to ensure non-discrimination against a state employee or candidate for state employment on the basis of the following:

• Race;
• Color;
• Religion;
• Gender/Sex;
• Gender identity or expression;
• National origin (ancestry);
• Military status;
• Disability;
• Age (40 years of age or older);
• Genetic information;
• Sexual orientation;
• Status as parent during pregnancy and immediately after the birth of a child;
• Status as a parent of a young child; or
• Status as a foster parent.

No state agency may make any employment-related decisions on the basis of the above-listed categories, including, but not limited to, hiring, layoff, termination, transfer, promotion, demotion, rate of compensation or eligibility for in-service training programs. Moreover, no state agency may retaliate against a complainant or a participant in a complaint.

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Steps to file an internal complaint of discrimination

1. Go to http://apps.das.ohio.gov/daseodcomplaintapp/ComplaintForm.aspx
2. Complete and submit the discrimination complaint form and add attachments, if needed.

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Information about filing an external discrimination complaint

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
1240 E. 9th St., Suite 3001
Cleveland, Ohio 44199
Telephone: 800-669-4000

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Statewide Internal Discrimination Complaint Process

Once the discrimination complaint form is completed (either by the complainant or the agency EEO officer), submitted to and received by Division, it is evaluated to determine jurisdiction.

Jurisdiction to file a discrimination complaint

In order for a complaint to be considered jurisdictional by the Division, the complainant must:

• Be an agency employee or candidate for state employment;
• Allege that the improper conduct occurred in the making of a state government employment-related decision including, but not limited to, hiring, layoff, termination, transfer promotion, demotion, rate of compensation or eligibility for in-service training programs;
• File the complaint with either the agency or with the Equal Opportunity Division in person, electronically, by U.S. mail, or through an authorized representative; and
• File within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged improper conduct.

• At any stage in the filing or investigation of a complaint, the complainant may be accompanied, represented and advised by a representative of his or her own choosing.
• An agency or complainant may request a complaint be investigated by an external investigator when a conflict of interest is perceived to exist within the agency.
• Throughout the discrimination complaint process, complainants will receive notice of notice of his or her right to file a charge affidavit with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission or the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, including the time limits for filing such charges.

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Agency Investigation

Any agency investigation shall include a thorough review of the circumstances under which the alleged improper conduct occurred and may include a review of the treatment of members of the complainant’s group identified by the complaint as compared with the treatment of other similarly situated employees in the agency. Information needed to apprise the complainant shall be recorded in the agency’s investigative file. At the end of their investigation, the agency must supply the complainant with the investigation report and determination, including the appeal rights of the complainant.

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Discrimination Complaint Appeal Process

If the complainant disagrees with the agency’s determination they have a right to appeal to the State Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator. This request must be done in writing within 15 days of receipt of the agency’s determination. This request can be emailed or faxed to the assigned EEO Program Contract Officer or directly to the EEO Program Manager

Upon receipt of the hearing request, the Division will review the hearing request reason and the information contained in the investigative file. In order to make the decision, the Division may also contact the agency for additional information. After review of all documents, the State Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator will determine to either:

• Accept the determination of the agency and deny the appeal;
• Remand the investigative file to the agency for further investigation; or
• Order that a hearing on the complaint be held.

If the hearing request is denied, the complaint will be notified in writing and the case will be closed. This marks the end of the appeal process.

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State Agency Contacts

For contact information of agency EEO officers and ADA coordinators, please click here. 

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Statutory and Regulatory Authority

The enabling statute for the statewide internal complaint process are R.C. 124.04(O). The regulations that govern the internal complaint process are found at Ohio Adm. Code Chapter 123:1-49. Relevant executive orders include Exeuctive Order 2019-03D and Executive Order 2019-05D.