Former Columbus City Manager and current mayoral candidate Isaiah Hugley has filed a Charge of Discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), alleging racial discrimination and retaliation by the Columbus Consolidated Government (CCG). The move has drawn criticism from some residents who argue that Hugley’s filing conflicts with his mayoral campaign. However, legal experts and civil rights advocates note that an EEOC filing is not a lawsuit — it is a protected legal right.
What an EEOC Complaint Really Means
Filing a charge with the EEOC is not the same as suing an employer. Instead, it triggers a federal agency review to determine whether workplace discrimination may have occurred. The EEOC investigates claims involving race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age (40+), or genetic information, and also protects individuals from retaliation for reporting discrimination…