EEOC Informal Discussion Letter

This document was rescinded in December 2019 as part of EEOC's effort to provide guidance and information that is current, accurate, and clear.

EEOC Office of Legal Counsel staff members wrote the following informal discussion letter in response to an inquiry from a member of the public. This letter is intended to provide an informal discussion of the noted issue and does not constitute an official opinion of the Commission.

TITLE VII/ADEA/ADA/EPA: Mandatory Arbitration

May 20, 2008

Dear____:

This letter responds to your inquiry regarding the legality of an arbitration agreement that your employer has asked you to sign. Many courts have allowed employers to condition continued employment on their employees agreeing to arbitrate any employment disputes that subsequently arise. If you have concerns about whether the terms of your employer's specific agreement are fair and enforceable, we suggest that you consult a private attorney.

Whether or not you ultimately sign or otherwise become subject to the agreement, you may file a charge of employment discrimination with the EEOC if you ever have reason to believe that your employer has discriminated against you on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, or disability. If you wish to file a charge, or to obtain more information about your rights with respect to employment discrimination, you may call EEOC at 1-800-669-4000.

Sincerely,

/s/
Reed L. Russell
Legal Counsel

This page was last modified on December 18, 2019.

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