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HOW DO I FILE A CLAIM?
If you believe that you have experienced
or are experiencing age discrimination,
you should first contact the EEO
representative in your agency.
Complaints must be filed within 30 days
after you learned of the alleged
violation.
If you have questions or concerns,
please contact your EEO Office or the
Office of the Statewide EEO
Coordinator at (410) 767-3800.
SAFE AND CONFIDENTIAL
All investigations into your complaint
are strictly confidential. Your
information will only be discussed
with pertinent individuals who need to
know for purposes of investigation
and resolution.
If you file a claim or pursue a
complaint, oppose discrimination, or
participate in an investigation,
Maryland law protects you against
retaliation by your employer.
It’s important to understand that
retaliation is not just limited to firing.
It includes other adverse actions such
as harassment, demotion, and
unjustified negative evaluations.
ADDITIONAL FILING INFO.
In addition to filing an initial claim with your
agency’s EEO Office, you may file a claim with
any of the following agencies:
1. Office of the Statewide EEO Coordinator
(OSEEOC). Within 10 days after your
agency renders a decision on your EEO
claim, you may file an appeal with the
OSEEOC at:
301 West Preston Street
Suite #607
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: (410) 767-3800
Fax: (410) 333-5004
Email: [email protected]
Website: OSEEOC Home
2. Maryland Commission on Civil Rights
(MCCR):
William Donald Schaefer Tower
6 Saint Paul Street, Suite 900
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 767-8600
Fax: (410) 333-1841
https://mccr.maryland.gov
3. Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC):
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission
31 Hopkins Plaza, Suite 1432
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Phone: (410) 209-2237
Toll Free: 1-800-669-4000
https://www.eeoc.gov/
G o v e r n o r L a w r e n c e J . H o g a n , J r .
D B M S e c r e t a r y D a v i d R. B r i n k l e y
S t a t e w i d e E E O C o o r d i n a t o r
G l y n i s W a t f o r d
(image: www.daysthatendiny.com)
A G E
D I S C R I M I N A T I O N
Office of the Statewide
Equal Employment Opportunity
Coordinator (OSEEOC)
DEFINING AGE
DISCRIMINATION:
Age discrimination is the unfair treatment
of a person because of his or her age.
Maryland law protects employees and
applicants from age discrimination in
advertising, recruitment, referral, hiring,
discharge, pay, promotion, training, fringe
benefits, forced early retirement and
other aspects of employment.
Only an individual’s merit and fitness
should be taken into account in
employment related decisions, unless age
is a bona fide occupational qualification.
TYPES OF AGE
DISCRIMINATION:
• Making reductions in force based on
age rather than on objective work-
related criteria.
• Implementing a neutral policy that, in
application, creates a disproportional
adverse effect on a protected group.
• Statements or actions motivated by an
individual’s age that creates a hostile
work environment.
• Telling job applicants that they are
overqualified.
• Accommodating the preference of co-
workers, clients or customers for
younger workers.
WHO IS PROTECTED?
Maryland law does not specify a minimum or
maximum age requirement to qualify for
protection from Age Discrimination. If an
employee or applicant believes that they have
been treated differently as a result of his/her
age, may file a claim.
Unlike Maryland law, under federal law, the
Age Discrimination and Employment Act
(ADEA) protects individuals 40 years and
older from age discrimination in employment.
LEGAL BACKGROUND:
Protections are derived from Maryland’s
Anti-Discrimination law State Government
Article Title 20 and State Personnel and
Pensions Article §2-302, and also by
Maryland’s Code of Fair Employment
Practices (Executive Order 01.01.2007.16).
HOW AM I
PROTECTED?
It is illegal to discriminate on the basis of
age in regards to:
• recruitment
• hiring
• transferring
• dismissal
• discipline
• work conditions
FIGHT DISCRIMINATION:
If you or someone you know is being
discriminated against, you can take the
following actions:
1. Speak to the harasser. S/he might not
know that his or her behavior is
offensive. Also, be sure to document the
incident(s) thoroughly—date, time, exact
words said, and, if applicable, witnesses.
2. Speak to your supervisor. S/he may
have to report your information to the
EEO Office.
3. Speak to your agency’s EEO Office
directly.
4. File a claim with the EEO Office.