File a Discrimination Complaint
Protected Categories
The law protects you from discrimination based on:
- Race
- Color
- National origin
- Disability
- Age
- Sex
- Pregnancy or parental status
- Genetic information
- Religion
- Political affiliation
- Retaliation
If you believe you have been discriminated against with respect to applying for or receiving services from DES, you have 180 calendar days from the last act of discrimination to submit a complaint.
Who Can File a Discrimination Complaint with the OEO?
The Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) will review your complaint if both of these statements are true:
- It is based on at least one protected category
- You are applying for, receiving, or were denied benefits or services from DES or a DES-approved contractor.
Non-Jurisdictional Complaints
If your complaint is not against DES or a DES-approved contractor, then the OEO is unable to accept your complaint. Your complaint will need to be filed with the appropriate state or federal entity, as follows:
State Level – Arizona Attorney General (AG), Civil Rights Division
Address: 2005 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone: (602) 542-5025
Arizona Attorney General's website
Federal Level – Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Address: 3300 N. Central Avenue, Suite 690, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: 1-800-669-4000
Fax: (602) 640-5071
TTY: (800) 669-6820
ASL Video Phone: (844) 234-5122
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website
How to File a Discrimination Complaint
Step 1 - Tell Us About Your Discrimination Complaint
You may file a complaint by doing one of the following:
- Completing the Client Discrimination Complaint (J-020) form
- Writing or typing your own statement
If you do not use the form, your complaint must include all of the following:
- Your name, address, and daytime phone number
- The name, job title, address, and daytime phone number of the person(s) you believe discriminated against you
- Specific facts and details of the discrimination
- The date(s) the incident happened
- Reason(s) you believe the treatment was based on at least one of the following:
- Race
- Color
- National origin
- Sex, Including the following:
- Sexual harassment
- Pregnancy
- Gender identity
- Sexual orientation
- Male vs. female
- Equal pay
- Religion
- Age
- Disability
- Genetics
- Retaliation
- The name and daytime phone number of any witnesses
- The name of any state or federal agency where you also filed a complaint about this issue
If your complaint is missing required information, it may be returned to you. This could delay the review of your complaint.
Step 3 - The Investigation Process
After your complaint is received, the DES Complaint Coordinator will review it. They will decide if the OEO will investigate the complaint. If the complaint is accepted, it will be assigned to an investigator. The investigator will review the claims and conduct a full investigation.
OEO will work with the appropriate program or office to collect details. No one may be treated unfairly for filing a complaint or taking part in an investigation.
All information is kept confidential. It will only be shared if allowed by law or policy.
When the investigation is complete, OEO will notify the person who submitted the complaint. The notice will explain how to take your complaint to a federal agency if you disagree with the results.