Sections on this Page:
- What Are These Resources?
- Fact Sheets and Frequently Asked Questions
- 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 (Published September 25, 2019)
- Under the Employment Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Offenses, and Stalking Amendment Act of 2018 protects victims and family members of victims of DVSOS against discrimination by employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations in the District of Columbia.
- Employers and Applicants can learn more about it by reading the factsheet below in the following languages:
- Employment Protections for Victims or Family Members of Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Offense or Stalking (DVSOS) - For Employers
- Under the Employment Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Offenses, and Stalking Amendment Act of 2018, employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations (“employers”) in the District of Columbia may not discriminate against an employee or an applicant (“employee”) based on their status as a victim or family member of a victim of DVSOS
- Employers can learn more about the requirements by reading the factsheet below, which is available in the following languages:
- 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:
- Frequently Asked Questions About the D.C. Family and Medical Leave Act (Published September 10, 2024)
- This 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 the FAQS below and in the following languages:
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Sexual Harassment Prevention Training and Documentation Compliance for the Tipped Wage Workers Fairness Amendment Act (Updated August 12, 2026).
- This document provided by OHR to help answer frequently asked questions about the Tipped Wage Workers Fairness Amendment Act. While these FAQs cover common topics, they may not encompass all possible scenarios.
- You can read 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 (Updated September 24, 2026)
- 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:
- Tipped Wage Workers Fairness Amendment Act - Fact Sheet (English)
- በጉርሻ (ቲፕ) ደመዎዝ ለሚያገኙ ሠራተኞች ፍትሃዊነት የማሻሻያ ሕግ (ፐይድ ዌጅ ዎርከርስ ፈየርነስ አመንድመንት አክት) - ጠቃሚ ሀቆች ያዘለ ወረቀት (ፋክት ሺት) (Amharic)
- 《小费薪资工人公平修正案》 - 情况说明书 (Chinese)
- Loi modificative sur l’équité pour les travailleurs percevant des pourboires - Fiche d’information (French)
- 팁을 받는 근로자 공정 대우 개정법 - 팩트 시트 (Korean)
- Ley de Enmienda de Equidad para Trabajadores que Reciben Propinas - Hoja informativa (Spanish)
- Luật Sửa đổi về Bảo đảm Công bằng cho Người Lao động Hưởng Tiền boa - Tờ Thông Tin (Vietnamese)
- Unemployed Anti-Discrimination Act - Fact Sheet for Employers and Applicants (Published 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
- Criminal Background Screenings and Housing - Preview of Law for Housing Providers (Updated September 25, 2017)
- Under the Fair Criminal Record Screening for Housing Act of 2016, which prevents unlawful screening of a housing applicant’s criminal background, the law imposes several requirements for rental housing providers. This include: 1) provision of written notice of rent eligibility criteria to applicants; and 2) not making an inquiry or asking any questions related to an applicant’s criminal background or arrest history at any time prior to making a conditional offer of housing to the applicant. OHR investigates housing providers who have violated the law.
- You can learn more about it by reading the factsheet below in the following languages:
- The DC Office of Human Rights’ (OHR) Frequently Asked Questions in Fair Housing: Do I Have a Case? (Published August 6, 2024)
- OHR conducts fair housing outreach and training sessions in all corners of the city, engaging with the public and addressing their questions and concerns. Below, OHR has compiled a list of FAQs to help individuals better understand fair housing laws and what constitutes a fair housing violation. While these FAQs cover common topics, they may not encompass all possible scenarios.
- You can learn more about it by reading the factsheet below in the following languages:
- Factsheet 24-01: Fair Housing Frequently Ask Questions (English)
- ፍትሃዊ መኖሪያ ቤት በተደጋጋሚ የተጠየቁ ጥያቄዎች የመረጃ ሉህ 24-03 (Amharic / አማርኛ)
- 公平住房常见问题解答 资料表 24-03 (Chinese / 中文)
- Foire aux questions sur le logement équitable Fiche d’information 24-03 (French / Français)
- 공정 주택 자주 묻는 질문 팩트시트 24-03 (Korean / 한국어)
- Preguntas frecuentes sobre la Ley de Vivienda Justa Hoja informativa del 24-03 (Spanish / Español)
- Câu Hỏi Thường Gặp Về Nhà Ở Công Bằng Tờ Thông Tin 24-03 (Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt)
Public Accommodations and Government Services
- Gender Identity and Expression in Places of Public Accommodation (Published April 18, 2017)
- DC law requires two things regarding access to public facilities: 1) single-occupancy bathrooms must be gender-neutral; and 2) facility managers and personnel must respect a person’s restroom choice based on their gender identification or expression
- You can learn more about the requirements by reading the factsheet below in the following languages:
- Places of Public Accommodations under the D.C. Human Rights Act Fact Sheet and Guidance on the New Definition (Published December 16, 2021)
- This factsheet is regarding legislative changes made to the definition of “place of public accommodation” under the DCHRA.
- You can learn more about it by reading the factsheet below in the following languages:
General OHR Processes
- OHR Customer Conduct Policy (Published February 10, 2026).
- OHR does not tolerate abusive, harassing, or threatening conduct toward its staff. Such behavior may result in removal from the premises, restricted access to services, dismissal of a case, or legal action.
- You can learn more by reading the document below in the following languages:
- OHR Customer Conduct Policy (English)
- ዲሲሰብዓዊመብቶችመስርያቤት(D.C. Office of Human Rights (OHR) የደንበኞችን ባህሪን ( Conduct) በተመለከተ የወጣ መመርያ (Amharic)
- 《哥伦比亚特区人权办公室服务对象行为守则》(Chinese)
- Code de bonne conduite du client du Bureau des droits de l’homme du DC (OHR) (French)
- 워싱턴 D.C. 인권 사무국(OHR) 고객 행동 정책 (Korean)
- Política de conducta del cliente hacia el personal de la Oficina de Derechos Humanos de D.C. (OHR) (Spanish)
- Văn phòng Nhân quyền Quận Columbia (OHR) Chính sách Ứng xử với Khách hàng (Vietnamese)
- OHR General Fact Sheet (Published December 2025)
- This fact sheet outlines the role of the OHR as an enforcement agency in the District, the laws and rights we enforce, and additional resources for community members on issues outside of OHR’s mandate. It is designed to clarify the scope of OHR’s work and to serve as a reference when questions arise about whether to bring claims to OHR or other District entities.
- You can learn more by reading the fact sheet below in the following languages:
- Fact Sheet: 26-01 Enforcement Areas & Public Resources (English)
- የመረጃ ቅጽ/Data Sheet/ ፦ 26-01 የማስፈጸሚያ አካባቢዎች እና የህዝብ ሀብቶች (አማርኛ) (Amharic)
- 情况说明书：26-01 执法领域与公共资源（英文版）(Chinese)
- Fiche d'information : 26-01 Domaines d'application et ressources publiques (français) (French)
- 팩트시트: 26-01 집행 영역 및 공공 자원(한국어) (Korean)
- Hoja informativa: 26-01 Áreas de cumplimiento y recursos públicos (español) (Spanish)
- Tờ Thông Tin: 26-01 Các Lĩnh Vực Thực Thi & Nguồn lực Công Cộng (Tiếng Anh) (Vietnamese)
- OHR Case Process System (Updated March 2025)
- This document highlights and explains the process of filing a complaint with OHR.
- You can learn more by reading the fact sheet below in the following languages:
- OHR Case Process System (English) - updated March 2025
- የሰብዓዊ መብት ጉዳዮችን ማጣርያ ቢሮ (Amharic) - ተሻሻለ በ: መጋቢት (March) 2025
- 人权办公室案件处理系统 (Chinese) - 更新：2025年3月
- Système de traitement des affaires du Bureau des droits de l’homme (French)
- 인권사무소(OHR) 사건 처리 체계 (Korean) - 업데이트: 2025년 3월
- Oficina de Derechos Humanos Sistema de Procesamiento de Casos (Spanish) - Última actualización: marzo de 2024
- Quy Trình Xử Lý Vụ Việc của Phòng Nhân Quyền (Vietnamese) - Cập nhật: Tháng Ba 2025
- OHR’s Role in Commission Proceedings and the Voluntary Compliance Agreement (“VCA”) (Published February 10, 2026)
- The DCHRA provides the OHR with broad authority to address unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and educational institutions in the District of Columbia. One tool to address discrimination is a Voluntary Compliance Agreement (“VCA”).
- You can learn more by reading the factsheet below in the following languages:
Other Protections
- Understanding the Fairness in Human Rights Administration Amendment Act (Updated March 16, 2026)
- This fact sheet explains recent changes to the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977 (“DCHRA”) under the Fairness in Human Rights Administration Amendment Act of 2024 (Fairness Act). This document is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. If you need legal advice on how the Fairness Act applies to a particular situation, please consult an attorney.
- You can learn more by reading the factsheet below in the following languages:
- Language Access Factsheet
- Two New Protected Traits under the DC Human Rights Act: Homeless Status and Sealed Eviction Record
- This factsheet highlights two new protected traits that went into effect October 1, 2022: homeless status and sealed eviction records.
- You can learn more about it by reading the factsheet below in the following languages:
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.
- Domestic Workers One Pager
- This document explains the employment protections that domestic workers, people who work in someone's home, taking care of kids, older adults, or people with disabilities. It also includes doing tasks like cleaning, cooking, and gardening, have under the DCHRA.
- You can learn more about and download the poster below and in the following languages:
- Domestic Workers One Pager (English)
- የቤት ውስጥ ሰራተኞች: የመብታቸው መረጃ ማጠቃለያ (Amharic)
- 家政工人: 他们的权利信息摘要 (Chinese)
- Travailleurs domestiques : résumé des informations sur leurs droits (French)
- 가사근로자: 그들의 권리 정보 요약 (Korean)
- Trabajadoras del Hogar: resumen de información de sus derechos (Spanish)
- Người Giúp Việc: Tóm Tắt Thông Tin về Quyền Lợi Của Họ (Vietnamese)
- Know Your Rights: Homeless Status as a Protected Trait
- If you’ve experienced discrimination because of your homeless status, the Office of Human Rights (OHR) is here to help. The DC Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of homeless status in employment, housing, public accommodations, government services, and educational institutions.
- Examples of potential discrimination include:
- Being denied service at a business or retail establishment
- Harassment in public spaces such as government buildings or health care facilities
- Unfair treatment by employers, housing providers, landlords, or property managers
- Download the poster in the following languages below:
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:
- E-mail: [email protected]
- 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 November 2, 2026.