California Department of Fair Employment and Housing The DFEH is a state agency which investigates complaints of discrimination and harassment against California employers, landlords, and places of public accommodation. The Department focuses on protecting employees and tenants from discrimination and harassment based on protected characteristics such as race, color and national origin, gender and sexual orientation, age, religion, and mental and physical disability.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission The EEOC is the Federal agency which investigates complaints by employees who allege discrimination, harassment or retaliation based on protected characteristics such as race, color and national origin, gender, age, religion, and mental and physical disability.
California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement The California DLSE is the Labor Commissioner's office. The DLSE processes wage and hour complaints by California employees who allege they have not been paid regular or overtime wages or have not been given required meal and rest breaks. The Division also handles certain types of retaliation complaints (i.e. retaliation for demanding wages or refusing to engage in illegal conduct) which are not covered by the DFEH. The site contains forms and pamphlets in multiple languages.
California Division of Occupational Safety and Health Cal-OSHA enforces laws requring employers to maintain safe and healthy working environments. Employees can file complaints about unsafe working conditions with Cal-OSHA.
State Personnel Board The California State Personnel Board processes complaints and appeals by state, county and other public civil service employees. The Board handles a wide variety of complaints, including allegations of improper rejections, suspensions, demotions, or terminations under civil service, merit, discrimination, whistleblower, and union protections found in various Government Code provisions. The Board does not assist employee of private, non-governmental employers.
National Labor Relations Board The NLRB is a federal agency which investigates complaints by employees that their employers or union have engaged in unfair labor or bargaining practices. For example, if a union doesn't fulfill its duty of fair representation to a member employee or an employer retaliates against an employee for union activities or organizing, the employee's recourse is to file a complaint with the NLRB.
Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)The EBSA is a division of the Federal Department of Labor which handles complaints by employees which involve COBRA benefits and ERISA plans, such as employer-sponsored retirement plans and pensions, health insurance, or disability benefits insurance.
Employment Law Center The ELC is a private, legal services non-profit. Low-income employees can go to ELC's free clinics throughout the Bay Area to get advice and help on work-related issues and problems.
