EEOC Atlanta, GA: How to Get Help With Workplace Discrimination in Metro Atlanta

If you live or work in Atlanta, Georgia and believe you’ve experienced workplace discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is the main federal agency that handles these complaints. Understanding how the EEOC Atlanta office works can make the process much less confusing and help you take effective next steps.

This guide walks you through what the EEOC does, how to contact the Atlanta office, how to file a charge, timelines, and what to expect—all with a focus on Atlanta and the surrounding metro area.

What the EEOC Does for Atlanta Workers and Employers

The EEOC enforces federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or employee because of:

• Race or color
• Religion
• Sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity)
• National origin
• Age (40 or older)
• Disability
• Genetic information
• Retaliation for reporting discrimination or participating in an investigation

In Atlanta, the EEOC can get involved in situations such as:

• Being fired, demoted, or written up because of your race, age, or gender
• Harassment at work (for example, sexual harassment or racial slurs)
• Being denied reasonable accommodations for a disability
• Being paid less than others for the same work because of a protected characteristic
• Being punished for complaining about discrimination or supporting a coworker’s complaint

The EEOC covers most employers with 15 or more employees (for age discrimination, 20 or more), including many of the large corporations, universities, hospitals, and government contractors around metro Atlanta.

EEOC Atlanta District Office: Location and Contact Details

The EEOC Atlanta District Office is the main EEOC hub serving much of Georgia, including metro Atlanta.

EEOC Atlanta District Office
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
100 Alabama Street SW, Suite 4R30
Atlanta, GA 30303

Main phone: 1‑800‑669‑4000 (EEOC national line)
TTY: 1‑800‑669‑6820
Fax (Atlanta office): Typically listed on official EEOC materials; check current EEOC contact info before faxing.

The Atlanta office serves people who live or work in:

• City of Atlanta (Fulton, DeKalb portions)
• Surrounding counties such as Cobb, Gwinnett, Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton, and others in North and Central Georgia

You generally need an appointment or online intake before visiting in person, so it’s important to call first or start online.

Ways to Start an EEOC Complaint in Atlanta

You do not have to figure everything out at once. The basic first step is to contact the EEOC and request an intake interview.

1. Online: EEOC Public Portal

Most Atlanta residents start through the EEOC Public Portal:

• You answer screening questions
• If the situation seems like it falls under EEOC laws, you can submit an intake questionnaire
• The EEOC may follow up with you to schedule an interview (often by phone or video)

This option can be more convenient if you work long hours in Midtown, Buckhead, Perimeter, or out in Gwinnett or Cobb and can’t easily travel downtown.

2. By Phone

You can call the national EEOC number and be routed to the Atlanta office:

• 1‑800‑669‑4000 (voice)
• 1‑800‑669‑6820 (TTY)

You can:

• Ask basic questions about whether your situation might be covered
• Request help scheduling an intake appointment
• Ask about deadlines for filing in Georgia

3. In Person (By Appointment)

The Atlanta office is downtown near several MARTA stations and bus lines, which helps if you don’t drive or prefer public transit. Because security is tight in federal buildings and staffing can vary, walk-ins may be limited; you’re usually advised to:

• Call ahead or
• Start online and wait for an appointment confirmation

If you have mobility issues, language needs, or need other accommodations, raise that when you schedule.

Filing Deadlines for EEOC Charges in Atlanta, GA

One of the most important details is the deadline (often called the “time limit” or “statute of limitations”) for filing a charge.

In Georgia, the typical deadline to file an EEOC charge is:

• 300 days from the date of the discrimination or harassment, in many situations
  (Georgia workers are generally covered by this extended deadline because of how federal and state enforcement is coordinated.)

Missing this deadline can mean the EEOC cannot accept your charge, even if your complaint is serious. If you’re unsure:

• ⚠️ Contact the EEOC Atlanta office as soon as possible after something happens
• Tell them the exact dates of the events so they can assess timeliness

For ongoing harassment, the clock can be more complex, so getting in touch early is helpful.

What Happens After You Contact EEOC Atlanta

The process usually unfolds in several steps.

Step 1: Intake Interview

An EEOC staff member will talk with you (by phone, video, or in person). They will:

• Ask what happened, when, and who was involved
• Confirm where you work or worked (for jurisdiction)
• Decide whether your situation appears to be covered by EEOC laws

If it does, they may:

• Draft a formal charge of discrimination for you to review and sign, or
• Ask for more information or documents

Step 2: Filing a Charge of Discrimination

You generally must file a formal charge before the EEOC investigates or before you can sue in federal court under many discrimination laws.

The charge will include:

• Your name and contact info (Atlanta-area address, phone, email)
• Your employer’s name and address (for example, a company in Downtown, Midtown, Sandy Springs, or an Atlanta-area warehouse, plant, or retail store)
• What happened, including dates and types of discrimination (e.g., race, sex, disability, retaliation)

Once you sign and submit the charge, the EEOC:

• Sends a notice of the charge to your employer
• Assigns your case to an investigator or offers mediation

Step 3: Mediation (Sometimes Offered Early)

In many Atlanta cases, the EEOC offers mediation soon after the charge is filed. Mediation:

• Is voluntary (both you and the employer must agree)
• Is confidential
• Uses a neutral mediator to help both sides talk through solutions

Mediation can be faster than a full investigation and may result in:

• Settlements such as back pay, job changes, training, or policy updates
• Agreements without either side “admitting” fault

If mediation doesn’t happen or doesn’t resolve the issue, your case usually moves to an investigator.

Step 4: Investigation

An EEOC investigator in the Atlanta District Office may:

• Ask your employer to provide records (personnel files, pay data, policies)
• Ask you and witnesses for written statements or interviews
• Review emails, performance reviews, and other documents

Investigations can take many months or longer, especially in complex cases or large Atlanta workplaces. The agency will periodically update you on the status, but it’s common for the process to feel slow.

Possible Outcomes of an EEOC Charge in Atlanta

When the investigation ends, several things can happen:

• No finding of discrimination:
  The EEOC issues a Notice of Right to Sue, allowing you to file a lawsuit in federal court if you choose and within set deadlines.

• Finding of reasonable cause:
  The EEOC believes discrimination likely occurred. They will try to resolve the matter through conciliation (a structured settlement process with the employer).

• Settlement at any point:
  You and your employer can settle at any time during the process—during mediation, investigation, or conciliation.

• EEOC lawsuit (rare):
  In a small number of cases, the EEOC may decide to file a lawsuit on behalf of one or more workers. This is relatively uncommon and typically reserved for broader or more serious matters.

Most Atlanta workers ultimately receive either a settlement or a Right to Sue notice, rather than a full EEOC lawsuit.

Types of Workplace Issues EEOC Atlanta Commonly Sees

Situations that Atlanta residents often bring to the EEOC include:

Discrimination in Hiring, Firing, or Promotions

Examples:

• Not being hired by a Buckhead or Midtown employer after being told you are “too old for the culture”
• Being consistently passed over for promotion at a Downtown office while less qualified coworkers of another race advance
• Being fired soon after disclosing a pregnancy

Harassment and Hostile Work Environment

Examples:

• Sexual comments or unwanted touching at a restaurant or hotel near the airport or in Midtown
• Racial slurs or offensive imagery at a construction site in metro Atlanta
• Ongoing disability-related insults from supervisors or coworkers

Disability and Reasonable Accommodation Issues

Examples:

• Denial of modified duties after a back injury at a warehouse near the perimeter
• Refusal to allow a reasonable schedule adjustment for medical appointments
• Failure to provide reasonable assistive technology for an office job

Retaliation

This is one of the most common complaints. It can include:

• Demotion or termination after reporting harassment to HR
• Unfair discipline after supporting a coworker’s discrimination complaint
• Reducing hours or moving someone to undesirable shifts because they complained

If you live or work in Atlanta and experience any of these, the EEOC is often the primary federal avenue for relief.

EEOC vs. Other Atlanta and Georgia Agencies

It can be confusing to know which agency to contact. In the Atlanta area, options may include:

The EEOC focuses specifically on discrimination and retaliation under federal civil rights laws, not on general unfairness, personality conflicts, or wage disputes.

Preparing for Your EEOC Atlanta Appointment or Contact

To make the process smoother, it helps to gather information before you call or file.

Useful items include:

• Timeline: Dates of key events (harassment, discipline, demotion, termination, denied promotion)
• Employer details: Legal name, address (for example, office in Downtown, Perimeter, or a distribution center in metro Atlanta), and approximate number of employees
• Documents:
  • Emails, text messages, or messages from work platforms
  • Performance evaluations
  • Written complaints you made to HR or management
  • Disciplinary notices or termination letters
• Witness information: Names and contact details of coworkers who saw or heard what happened
• Notes: Your own written summary while events are fresh in your memory

You do not need to have everything perfectly organized to contact the EEOC, but the more detail you can provide, the easier it is for the investigator to understand your case.

Do You Need a Lawyer in Atlanta to File With the EEOC?

You do not need a lawyer to:

• Contact the EEOC Atlanta office
• Complete an intake questionnaire
• File a charge of discrimination

However, some Atlanta workers choose to consult an employment attorney, especially if:

• Their case involves significant lost wages or serious harassment
• They are considering a lawsuit in federal court
• They are unsure whether to accept a settlement offer

Lawyers cannot speed up the EEOC’s schedule, but they can help you:

• Understand your options
• Review settlement proposals
• Meet court deadlines if you receive a Right to Sue notice

If you decide to seek legal help, you can look for employment or civil rights attorneys who practice in Atlanta federal courts.

Tips for Atlanta Workers Using the EEOC Process

• Act quickly: Atlanta commutes, long shifts, and busy schedules make it easy to delay. Because deadlines are strict, it’s better to contact the EEOC sooner rather than later.
• Keep records: Save emails, texts, schedules, and written warnings. Take notes after key conversations (dates, times, what was said).
• Use safe contact info: If you are worried about your employer seeing your communications, use a personal email and phone, not your work accounts.
• Be honest and consistent: Provide clear, accurate information to the EEOC. If something changes or you remember a detail later, update your investigator.
• Stay reachable: Keep your contact information current with the Atlanta office so you don’t miss important letters or calls.

Key Takeaways for “EEOC Atlanta GA”

• The EEOC Atlanta District Office, located at 100 Alabama Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303, handles federal workplace discrimination complaints for metro Atlanta and much of Georgia.
• You can start the process online, by phone, or by appointment at the Atlanta office.
• Most claims must be filed within about 300 days of the discriminatory act in Georgia.
• The EEOC process typically involves an intake interview, formal charge, possible mediation, investigation, and then a decision or Right to Sue notice.
• The EEOC focuses on discrimination and retaliation based on protected characteristics, not general workplace disputes.

If you live, work, or used to work in the Atlanta area and believe you’ve experienced discrimination, the EEOC Atlanta office is the central federal resource for getting your complaint formally reviewed and taking the next step toward possible resolution.