What is Equal Employment Opportunity and how to file a claim

The City has a fair process to investigate issues like discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. This process is available to everyone who is connected to the City, including employees, job applicants, interns, volunteers, and contractors. If someone feels they have been treated unfairly, they can find out how to report their concerns using the information provided on this page.

Understand the types of complaints we look into before you file.

What counts as a violation of Equal Opportunity law.

Call the EEO helpline

(415) 557-4900 or (415) 557-4810 (TTY)

• DHR EEO staff are available to assist you in completing your complaint.

Email

DHR-EEO@sfgov.org

Tell us about your situation.

• Use specific details. Say why you think this is a specific case of discrimination (like being treated differently due to your or someone else's age, racial identity, or gender).

Be sure to also include:

• Name and Pronoun
• Preferred contact information
• Job title and department
• Issue and basis for your complaint
• Date of alleged discriminatory, harassing, or retaliatory conduct
• Any witnesses to the alleged conduct
• Documentation to support your complaint

File in person

Address:
Department of Human Resources
1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103

Hours of operation:
Monday to Friday - 8:00 am to 5:00 pm 

• Visit us in person to let us know about your issue.

Mail

Address:
Director, Department of Human Resources
Attention: EEO Division
1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103

Tell us about your situation.

• Use specific details. Say why you think this is a specific case of discrimination (like being treated differently due to your or someone else's age, racial identity, or gender).

Be sure to also include:

• Name and Pronoun
• Preferred contact information
• Job title and department
• Issue and basis for your complaint
• Date of alleged discriminatory, harassing, or retaliatory conduct
• Any witnesses to the alleged conduct
• Documentation to support your complaint

Notify your own EEO department know

• You may file complaints with their home departments' human resources groups, which will subsequently contact DHR EEO.

Find another way

With the federal government:

• File a complaint at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

With the State of California:

• File a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department.

With your union:

• Ask for details on how to file a complaint of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation with your union specifically.
• Unions usually outline this process is their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City.
• Sometimes MOUs say you must go through the City's internal complaint process. If so, you can follow the main steps outlined on this page.