DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS

External:
In order for the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs to have the legal jurisdiction to investigate a complaint filed under Chapter 17 of the Tucson City Code, the following guidelines must be met:

• The issue must be one of discrimination. NOTE: A prima facie case must be established for the OEOP to begin an investigation. Prima facie is a term that means, "at first glance", and has specific criteria that must be met to determine if you can proceed with your charge of harassment, discrimination and/or retaliation.
  
  
• It is necessary to show that persons of a different group than yours (race, color, religion, ancestry, sex, age, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status and/or marital status) have been treated in a manner different from you and that the difference in treatment has had an adverse impact to your employment, housing or in the refusal or restriction of a facility or service;
  
  
• The business against whom the complaint is filed must be located within the City limits;
  
  
• The complaint must be filed within 90 calendar days from the date of the alleged discriminatory act (180 days for housing complaints). There are specific organizations that can not be investigated under authority of this code (See Tucson City Code Section 17-13, 17-51(b) and 17-53). This document is available upon request or you may contact the OEOP for additional information on exclusions.

External Complaint Form (pdf)

Internal:
A prima facie case must be established in order to begin an investigation.  It will be necessary to show that persons of a different group than yours (race, color, religion, ancestry, sex, age, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status, marital status, and/or political opinions, beliefs or affiliations) have been treated in a manner different from you and that the difference in treatment has had an adverse impact in your employment. 

In accordance with Administrative Directive 2.05-8, formal Complaints must be filed with the City's Office of Equal Opportunity Programs within ninety (90) calendar days of the alleged discrimination. 

If you believe that you have been treated unfairly but not differently from others that are not in your protected group, do not complete this form.  Your concerns might be addressed by
using the City of Tucson Grievance Procedure (Administrative Directive 2.02-2).

Examples of issues covered by the Grievance Procedure are disciplinary actions not appealable to the Civil Service Commission, working conditions, and employee/employer relations over which a department director has control.  To request assistance on the Grievance Procedure, contact the Human Resources Department at 791-4241.

Internal Complaint Form (pdf)