A newly installed Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) procedure will allow the public to request the agency’s opinion on job disputes related to Title VII and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) where the application of existing regulations or guidance is unclear. A formal opinion letter represents the EEOC’s official position on the matter raised and may provide a defense to liability. Both employers and employees/job applicants may a request in writing; however, issuance is at the discretion of the EEOC.
Requests for opinion letters under the ADA, GINA or the EPA may also be made following the same process, but these laws do not extend a defense to employers who comply with the terms of a formal opinion letter.
For more information, see the EEOC website.
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