Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations Representation
The Philadelphia Commission on Human Rights (PCHR) accepts Complaints of Discrimination from employees who believe that they have been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, or sexual orientation. You may also file a Complaint with the PCHR if you have been retaliated against for complaining about discrimination, filing a charge of discrimination, or participating in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit.
In Pennsylvania, in many circumstances, before pursuing a lawsuit against your employer for discrimination, you are first required to file a Charge or Complaint with an administrative agency, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission or the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, and you may wish to dual file your Charge/Complaint with a second agency. You may file a Charge or Complaint yourself or seek the help of an attorney to file a Charge or Complaint on your behalf.
After you file a Complaint of Discrimination, the PCHR may contact you about attending a mediation to try to resolve your Complaint. You should consider having an experienced attorney with you at the PCHR mediation to represent you.
The PCHR may conduct an investigation into your matter, which sometimes includes seeking additional information and documents from you and your employer, and considering whether your Complaint of Discrimination has merit. As part of its investigation, the PCHR may also schedule a fact-finding conference, for you and your employer to attend to discuss your Complaint of Discrimination and your employer's response to your Complaint. You should consider having an experienced attorney with you at the PCHR fact finding to represent you.
Bell & Bell LLP attorneys have successfully handled hundreds of matters before administrative agencies, including the PCHR, assisting clients with Complaint filing, mediation representation, the investigation, fact finding representation, and the process following the completion of the PCHR's investigation. If you need help with any stage of a PCHR Complaint, call Bell & Bell LLP at 215.569.2500 or contact us online.
