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Office of Human Rights
 

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OHR Notices, Fact Sheets, FAQs, and Posters

Sections on This Page:

  • What Are These Resources?
  • Fact Sheets and Frequently Asked Questions
    • Employment Rights
    • Housing Rights
    • Public Accommodations and Government Services Rights
    • General OHR Processes
    • Other Protections
  • Posters and One Pagers
  • Notices
  • Additional Questions and Comments

What Are These Resources?

This resource page provides access to the Office of Human Rights’ (OHR) fact sheets and frequently asked questions (FAQs), posters, and one-pagers, and notices. These materials explain key protections under the D.C. Human Rights Act and related laws, helping residents, workers, and visitors understand their rights, responsibilities, and how OHR can assist.

Materials are available in multiple languages and may be downloaded below.

Fact Sheets and Frequently Asked Questions

Fact sheets and FAQs provide easy-to-understand explanations and answers about laws, rights, protections, and important processes.

 

Employment Rights

  • Criminal Background Screenings and Employment – Fact Sheet for Job Applicants
    • Under the Fair Criminal Record Screening Amendment Act of 2014 prohibits most employers in the District of Columbia from asking about criminal backgrounds on job applications or during the interview process. The law also allows individuals who believe employers improperly asked about or looked into their criminal backgrounds to file a complaint with OHR for free. If OHR determines the employer did violate the law, the employer may have to pay a fine, part of which goes to the person who was improperly asked about their criminal background.
    • Applicants can learn more about the requirements by reading the factsheet below, which is available in the following languages:
  • Employment Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Offenses, and Stalking Amendment Act of 2018 – Fact Sheet For Employees and Job Applicants (Released September 25, 2019)
  • Employment Protections for Victims or Family Members of Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Offense or Stalking (DVSOS) - For Employers
  • Fair Credit in Employment Amendment Act of 2016 - Fact Sheet for Employers, Employees and Applicants (Updated October 5, 2017)
    • Under the Fair Credit in Employment Amendment Act of 2016, employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations in the District of Columbia may not discriminate against an employee or an applicant based on their credit information. This means that employers, unless excluded by the law (see the document below), may not ask for, or rely on, credit information of a current or potential employee in making employment decisions.
    • Employers, employees, and applicants can learn more about it by reading the factsheet below in the following languages:
  • The DC Office of Human Rights’ (OHR) Frequently Asked Questions About the D.C. Family and Medical Leave Act (Released September 10, 2024)
    • This is a document provided by OHR to help answer frequently asked questions about the D.C. Family and Medical Leave Act (“DCFMLA”). This document is designed to help both D.C. employees and employers understand their rights and obligations under the DCFMLA. While these FAQs cover common topics, they may not encompass all possible scenarios.
    • You can read all the FAQS below and in the following languages:
  • Parental Leave Act - Know Your Rights in the District of Columbia Factsheet
    • Under the District of Columbia Parental Leave Act allows employees who are parents or guardians to take 24 hours of leave (paid or unpaid) during a 12 month period to attend school-related activities. School events include but are not limited to: parent-teacher conferences, concerts, plays, rehearsals, sporting events, and other activities where the child is a participant or the subject of the event, not a spectator.
    • You can learn more about the requirements by reading the factsheet below, which is available in the following languages:
  • Protecting Pregnant Workers Fairness Act - Fact Sheet for Employers and Employees Factsheet
    • Under the Protecting Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and how it requires District of Columbia employers to provide reasonable workplace accommodations for employees whose ability to perform job duties is limited because of pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or a related medical condition.
    • Employers and employees can learn more about the requirements by reading the factsheet below, which is available in the following languages:
  • Tipped Wage Workers Fairness Act: Know Your Rights in the District of Columbia (Released October 20, 2021)
    • Under the Tipped Wage Workers Fairness Amendment Act, which requires District employers who hire individuals earning tips as wages to inform their employees about their rights and benefits. Some of the laws providing these rights are enforced by OHR and others are enforced by the Department of Employment Services (DOES).
    • You can learn more about the requirements by reading the factsheet below, which is available in the following languages:
  • Unemployed Anti-Discrimination Act - Fact Sheet for Employers and Applicants (Released November 23, 2015)
    • Under the Unemployed Anti-Discrimination Act of 2012 (UADA) prohibits employers, employment agencies or entities acting on an employer’s behalf from discriminating against an individual applicant because they are unemployed. Individuals who believe an employer, agency or entity failed or refused to consider them for employment, or failed to refuse or hire them, because they were unemployed can file a complaint with OHR.
    • Employers and applicants can learn more about the requirements by reading the factsheet below, which is available in the following languages:

Housing Rights

Public Accommodations and Government Services

General OHR Processes

Other Protections

 

Informational Posters & One-Pagers

Posters and one-pagers are designed for quick reference, public display, and to help understand key information at a glance. If you are looking for either required and/or optional workplace and business posters, you can locate them here.

Notices

Notices provide official announcements and statements from OHR.
  •  Source of Income in Housing - OHR Enforcement Notice: 26-01 (Published November 2025)
    • DCHRA prohibits source of income discrimination in housing, which usually involves unfair treatment of a prospective renter because that person seeks to pay their rent with the assistance of an income-based housing subsidy (e.g., housing choice vouchers). Generally, under the DCHRA, it is an unlawful discriminatory practice to deny, directly or indirectly, any individual the full and equal enjoyment of housing, including the rental of a dwelling, services, facilities, and privileges, based on a person’s source of income.
    • You can learn more about and download the notice below and in the following languages:

 

Additional Questions or Comments

If you have any further questions or comments regarding the information on this page, please contact us via:
  • In-Person: 441 4th Street NW, Suite 570N, Washington, DC 20001
  • Phone: (202) 727-4559

When you call or visit us and require language assistance, our staff will connect you with a live interpreter to ensure we can assist you effectively.

Please note that while OHR is available to answer questions to the best of our ability, any information provided should not be considered legal advice.

 

This webpage was last updated on December 15, 2025

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