labor lawAdivision of labor law center

Again, I find a state that does not do much more for its employees concerning employment discrimination laws in the workplace. As far as I’m concerned, some states have terrific protective laws, but Oklahoma is not one of them.

Oklahoma’s employment discrimination in the workplace make it illegal to discriminate of the basis of age, color, handicap, national origin, race, religion, or sex. Furthermore, this state downgrades their state laws from those of the federal standards for employment discrimination laws in the workplace. In Oklahoma, you cannot take a case to state court unless it is disability-related.

Claims in Oklahoma can be filed with one of two agencies: the state agency, the Oklahoma Human Rights Commission (OHRC), or the federal agency, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). These agencies will work together to resolve you claim as long as you file in one agency and request that your claim be cross-filed with the other. The OHRC can be contacted at one of two offices: Oklahoma City (405) 521-2360 or TDD: (405) 522-3993 and Tulsa (918) 581-2733 ; the EEOC can be contacted at (405) 231-4911 or TTY: 405) 231-5745.

Claims through the OHRC must be filed within 180 days of the date of the discriminatory act while you have 300 days of this act to file with the EEOC. Because of the difference in deadlines it is best to first file through the OHRC and then have them cross-file your claim with the EEOC. File early to avoid delays due to legalities in the filing process as these delays can push your past the deadline. Retaining an attorney is a big help, but is not required.

If your claim is not resolved by these agencies, you may need to pursue it in court. Oklahoma does not require you to file with the OHRC before you file a case in the state courts, but the federal courts do require that you file your claim through the EEOC before you are able to file in the federal court system. Additionally, the EEOC must release your claim by giving you one of two documents: “Dismissal and Notice of Rights,” or “Right to Sue.” A claim filed in federal court must be filed within 90 days of receiving either of the above documents. The only lawsuits that can be taken to court in Oklahoma state courts are those based on disability. Because of this, it is recommended that you do not file other cases with the OHRC. Lawsuits filed in Oklahoma’s state court system have a 2 year time limit from the time the discriminatory act occurred.

I am disappointed in Oklahoma’s employment discrimination in the workplace laws. They have not only given minimal coverage in relation to what is considered a discriminatory act, but they have taken the chance for most cases to be pursued in state courts. Their laws are actually quite similar to the laws in several southern states and may be minimal in order to encourage new business to come to the state.

Last 10 posts by Karen

• Virginia ( VA ) Employment Discrimination Law in the Workplace - August 25th, 2006
• Vermont ( VT ) Employment Discrimination Law in the Workplace - August 25th, 2006
• Utah ( UT ) Employment Discrimination Law in the Workplace - August 25th, 2006
• Texas ( TX ) Employment Discrimination Law in the Workplace - August 25th, 2006
• Tennessee ( TN ) Employment Discrimination Law in the Workplace - August 25th, 2006
• South Carolina ( SC ) Employment Discrimination Law in the Workplace - August 24th, 2006
• Pennsylvania ( PA ) Employment Discrimination Law in the Workplace - August 24th, 2006
• Oregon ( OR ) Employment Discrimination Law in the Workplace - August 24th, 2006
• Ohio ( OH ) Employment Discrimination Law in the Workplace - August 24th, 2006
• New York ( NY ) Employment Discrimination Law in the Workplace - August 24th, 2006