Labor & Employment
Equal Employment Opportunity
Federal and state laws prohibit employment discrimination. The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Texas Workforce Commission ("TWC"), Human Rights Division are charged with enforcing laws which prohibit certain forms of discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. Employers with 15 or more employees engaged in an industry affecting commerce, employment agencies, and labor unions are prohibited from denying equal employment opportunities. Regardless of the number of individuals employed, a county, municipality, and any state agency or instrumentality including public institutes of education, are also prohibited from denying equal employment opportunities. The TWC, Human Rights Division will assist local governments in establishing human rights commissions and provide technical assistance and training to employers to facilitate compliance with laws prohibiting employment discrimination. The TWC, Human Rights Division has jurisdiction for investigating employment complaints in Texas. The EEOC promotes voluntary programs that allow employers and organizations to implement equal employment opportunity programs within their businesses. For information regarding federal equal employment requirements, contact:
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Dallas District Office
207 South Houston, 3rd Floor
Dallas, Texas 75202
214/655-3355 or 214/655-3363 (TDD)
El Paso District Office
Commons Building C, Suite 100
4171 North Mesa Street
El Paso, Texas 79902
915/534-6550 or 915/534-6545 (TDD)
Houston District Office
1919 Smith Street, 7th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
713/209-3320 or 713/209-3367 (TDD)
San Antonio District Office
5410 Fredericksburg Road, Suite 200
Mockingbird Plaza, Plaza II
San Antonio, Texas 78229
210/229-4810 or 210/229-4858
Texas also has requirements for equal employment under Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code. For information regarding state equal employment requirements, contact:
Texas Workforce Commission, Human Rights Division
101 East 15th Street
Austin, Texas 78778
512/463-3222
Texas Workforce Commission, Civil Rights Division
1117 Trinity Street, Room 144-T
Austin, Texas 78701
512/463-2642 or 800/735-2989
