File a complaint

 

Learn how to file a discrimination or whistleblower retaliation complaint

If you have experienced unfair treatment, you can file a complaint. Anyone can file a discrimination complaint with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO). Whistleblower retaliation complaints can be filed with the Office of Public Hearings (OPH), but only if you work for certain employers. There are important deadlines for each type of complaint, but you don't need every detail to get started.
These are the different types of complaints you can make:

  • Discrimination complaints are for injustices in employment, housing, places of public accommodations, or in credit transactions based on Connecticut's "protected classes", like race, religion, sex, and many more. See below for more details
  • Whistleblower retaliation complaints can be filed by people working for specific employers who experience retaliation after reporting corruption and other kinds of unethical conduct.

Discrimination complaints and whistleblower retaliation complaints

 

Discrimination complaints are handled by CHRO

Discrimination complaints cover problems at work, in housing, or in public places. Filing a complaint is free.

Learn more about discrimination complaints  
 

OPH reviews whistleblower retaliation complaints

Connecticut law prohibits retaliation against whistleblowers. Whistleblower retaliation complaints are handled by OPH.

About whistleblower complaints  
 

Filing a discrimination complaint with CHRO

CHRO investigates and prosecutes discrimination complaints in different areas of daily life. You can file a complaint if you believe you were treated unfairly based on who you are - such your as race, religion, sex, and many more "protected classes" under Connecticut law.

If you believe that you have been discriminated against, you can file a notarized complaint directly with one of CHRO's regional offices. You can also schedule an appointment to meet with a CHRO intake officer, who will help you draft a complaint for filing with CHRO.

A formal complaint must be filed with CHRO within 300 days of the discriminatory act.

Learn how to file a discrimination complaint  

Who is protected against discrimination 

Connecticut law prohibits discrimination based on "protected classes" at work, in housing, in public accommodations, and credit transactions.

Intake process with CHRO 

Discrimination complaints must be filed within 300 days of the discriminatory act. Get the intake process started today.

What happens after you file a CHRO complaint 

Learn more about how CHRO will process your discrimination complaint after you file it.

Housing discrimination complaints 

CHRO handles housing discrimination cases differently than other types of complaints. Learn more here.
 

Filing a whistleblower retaliation complaint with OPH

Connecticut's whistleblower retaliation law, Connecticut General Statutes § 4-61dd(e), protects employees that work for state agencies, quasi-public agencies, or large state contractors.

If you work for one of those employers and have experienced retaliation after reporting corruption, violation of state laws or regulations, mismanagement, abuse of authority, gross waste of funds, and/or unethical practices, you can file a whistleblower retaliation complaint with the Office of Public Hearings (OPH).

Learn more about whistleblower retaliation complaints  

Frequently asked questions: whistleblower retaliation 

This section explains how OPH handles whistleblower retaliation complaints, who can file, and what happens after filing.

Whistleblower retaliation decisions 

Review past whistleblower retaliation decisions from OPH here.

Statues and regulations 

Review the statutes and regulations applying to whistleblower retaliation complaints here.

List of large state contractors 

The whistleblower retaliation law covers employees of state agencies, quasi-public agencies, and large state contractors. Check if your employer is a large state contractor here.