Sections on this Page:
- Overview on Office of Human Rights’ EEO Counseling Program
- What Is an EEO Counselor and What Does an EEO Counselor Do?
- Steps In EEO Counseling and How to File with OHR
- Step 1: Contacting an EEO Counselor
- Step 2: Initial Counseling Interview
- Step 3: Gather Information & Review Documents
- Step 4: Facilitate Informal Resolution
- Step 5: Final Counseling Interview
- Tips for Communicating with an EEO Counselor
- Additional Questions and Comments
Overview on Office of Human Rights’ EEO Counseling Program
DC government employees and applicants alleging employment discrimination based on a protected trait who wish to file a complaint with the Office of Human Rights (OHR) must first consult an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Counselor within 180 calendar days of the occurrence of discrimination or discovery of discrimination in order to attempt informal resolution. You may consult with any EEO Counselor in the District.
Complainants will have 30 calendar days to work with the Counselor to seek a resolution to the complaint. This will result in one of two actions:
The Counselor has worked with both parties, and a solution has been reached, closing the case.
If a solution is not reached, the EEO Counseling process ends and the Counselor will issue an Exit Letter.
If you wish to file a formal complaint with OHR, you must do so within 15 calendar days of receiving the Exit Letter, and you must attach the Exit Letter to your OHR complaint.
EEO Counseling is not required for claims regarding sexual harassment or violations of DC Family Medical Leave Act (DCFMLA), individuals may file those claims directly with OHR.
For more information on the District government's policy on sexual harassment, visit the DC Department of Human Resources website here.
What Is an EEO Counselor and What Do They Do?
An EEO Counselor is a neutral fact-finder that has been designated by their agency head or director to provide EEO counseling services on behalf of the agency. All EEO Counselors are trained and certified by OHR.
Once a Counselor is contacted, they will review the claim, collect relevant information, and try to resolve the claim within 30 calendar days; this is known as the counseling period. The Counselor may extend the counseling period by an additional 30 calendar days if necessary. However, at any point after the extension a complainant may end the counseling period by demanding an Exit Letter.
Steps In EEO Counseling and How to File with OHR
This process can be overwhelming for individuals who need help. OHR has broken the steps down below to assist with this. Please note that each case is unique and below provides a general overview.
Step 1: Contacting an EEO Counselor
Complainant reviews OHR’s updated EEO Counselor List (last updated in July 2025) and contacts at least three (3) EEO Counselors to request availability for EEO counseling.
When contacting an EEO Counselor, please include a brief 3–4-line summary of your complaint with the following details in your request for counseling:
Basis - Which protected trait do you believe that you were treated differently because of?
Issue(s) - What action was taken that made you feel you were treated differently?
Date – When did the alleged action(s) take place?
An example email can be viewed below:
Step 2: Initial Counseling Interview
The EEO Counselor will contact the claimant to schedule the initial counseling interview within seven (7) calendar days of initial contact. During the initial counseling interview, the EEO Counselor will:
- Explain the EEO counseling process and the claimant’s Notice of Rights and Responsibilities;
- Listen to the Complainant’s explanation to get an understanding of the events surrounding the allegations and ask any clarifying questions;
- Request any relevant documents;
- Ask the Complainant for their resolution proposal; and
- Review the claims, bases, alleged adverse actions, and resolution proposals with Complainant.
Step 3: Gather Information & Review Documents
The EEO Counselor will gather and review relevant information from the agency.
Step 4: Facilitate Informal Resolution
The EEO Counselor will contact the appropriate decision-maker to communicate the Complainant's proposed resolution. The EEO Counselor may hold a joint meeting with both parties or separate meetings with management and the Complainant relaying resolution proposals from one party to the other until an agreement is reached. The EEO Counselor will be a neutral facilitator and will not take sides.
Step 5: Final Counseling Interview.
The EEO Counselor will schedule a Final Counseling Interview with the complainant whether the complaint is resolved or not, to review the specific steps taken to resolve the matter. The EEO Counselor will issue an Exit Letter and, if the matter has not been resolved, will advise the Complainant of their right to file a complaint with OHR within 15 calendar days of receipt of the Exit Letter.
Step 6: Filing a Complaint with OHR.
To file a formal claim with OHR, you must submit your Exit Letter and complete the Employment Discrimination Questionnaire to start this process, which further information can be viewed on our Complaint Process and Timeline.
If you have contacted an EEO Counselor, or attempted to do so, but have not been issued an Exit Letter within 30 days of contacting the EEO Counselor, you may submit the Employment Discrimination Questionnaire to OHR with an explanation of why you were unable to receive an Exit Letter. Please be sure to detail the date(s) on which you contacted or attempted to contact an EEO Counselor.
When filing a complaint, you can either file the employment discrimination complaint using our online fillable form, download a fillable PDF version to be completed and then mail it to the office, or visit OHR's office at 441 4th Street NW, Suite 570N, Washington, DC 20001 to fill out the questionnaire in person.
Tips for Communicating with an EEO Counselor
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Do not send a mass email to multiple EEO Counselors to request EEO counseling. You must contact EEO Counselors individually.
- Do not submit any documents and/or other evidence with your initial request for EEO counseling. Your EEO Counselor will request any documents/information needed during the EEO counseling process.
- Do retain copies of all your EEO counseling requests and written communication with your EEO Counselor.
- Do let us know if you are unable to obtain EEO counseling after contacting at least three (3) EEO Counselors and more than thirty (30) days have passed, by contacting Mary Wallace, EEO Compliance Review & Training Officer, at [email protected] or 202-727-3651.
Additional Questions and Comments
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E-mail: [email protected]
- In-Person: 441 4th Street NW, Suite 570N, Washington, DC 20001
- Phone: (202) 727-4559
Information regarding filing a complaint with OHR, can be asked by:
- E-mail: ohr @dc.gov
- 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 contact 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 November 6, 2025.