Any employee or applicant for employment, who believes they have been discriminated or harassed based on their age, sex (gender), race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, or sexual orientation or any other basis protected by law, may file a complaint of harassing or discriminatory behavior with the County’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Office for resolution. However, a complaint may also be filed with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) or the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

The EEO Office is authorized by the Board of Supervisors to conduct a thorough and objective review of all circumstances relating to complaints of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, which may require as part of the investigation, interviewing persons knowledgeable of any aspect of a complaint. The cooperation of witnesses is necessary in order to assist the EEO Office in determining facts.

What to Expect

Employees and job applicants may be interviewed to establish the substance of their complaints. If it is determined from the information presented that the complaint falls within the scope of EEO, the complainant will be asked to complete a formal complaint form and an investigation will be initiated. Investigations involve interviewing witnesses, the complainant, the accused and/or gathering facts.

A complaint should be filed as soon as the applicant or employee becomes aware or believes that they are experiencing inappropriate behavior.