U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
PRESS RELEASE
9-27-12
Repeal of Local EEO Ordinance Will Not Affect Employment Discrimination Filings with EEOC
Employment Discrimination No Longer Covered by Lee County Office of Equal Opportunity
FT. MYERS, Fla. -- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today that it has implemented a new plan to accept and investigate claims of employment discrimination brought in Lee County, Fla. The EEOC's announcement comes after the Lee County Board of County Commissioners repealed its local EEO ordinance by a vote of 4 to 1. As a result of the Board of Commissioners vote, the Lee County Office of Equal Opportunity notified the EEOC that it will no longer conduct intake of employment discrimination complaints under a work sharing agreement with the EEOC, and will soon no longer investigate such complaints.
"The EEOC is committed to protecting the employment rights of Lee County residents," said EEOC Miami District Director, Malcolm S. Medley. "We will ensure that people are aware of their rights under federal anti-discrimination laws, and how to file discrimination charges. There will be no interruption in this important service. We appreciate the service Lee County has provided over the years to the public in its partnership with the EEOC."
The EEOC has implemented a plan to assist people who may be affected by the Lee County repeal of its local EEO ordinance, and which addresses the status of pending Lee County investigations. EEOC Director Medley and Deputy Director Ozzie Black will discuss plans for the transition at an open community meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 1, in Lee County. For more information concerning this meeting, including its location, please call (813) 202-7924.
Under the EEOC's plan, people seeking counsel about their rights under anti-discrimination employment laws may contact the EEOC directly at (800) 669-4000. In addition, individuals may visit or mail a complaint to the EEOC at:
| EEOC Miami District Office 100 S.E. 2nd Street, Suite 1500 Miami Florida, 33131 |
or | EEOC Tampa Field Office 501 Polk Street, Suite 1000 Tampa, Florida 33602 |
Additionally, and until further notice, the EEOC will be available from 10:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the former location of the Lee County Office of Equal Opportunity to provide intake services to local residents.
Individuals may also contact or file a complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Relations at:
Florida Commission on Human Relations
2009 Apalachee Parkway, Suite 1000
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws against employment discrimination. The Miami District Office's jurisdiction includes Florida, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. Further information is available at www.eeoc.gov.