This page lists US federal agencies and general ways to get help. It is not legal advice and does not cover every situation. Deadlines for filing complaints can be short, so if you think your rights were violated, contact the right agency or an employment lawyer soon.
Federal agencies by topic
| Topic | Where to look | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage, overtime, breaks, family leave | US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division | Federal wage and hour rules and the Family and Medical Leave Act |
| Discrimination and harassment | Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) | Discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetic information, and retaliation |
| Workplace safety | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | Safety and health standards, and reporting hazards |
| Unions, organizing and talking with coworkers about conditions | National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) | Rights of many private-sector employees to act together about pay and conditions |
| Career planning, training and job search | CareerOneStop, sponsored by the Department of Labor | Career information, training search and local job centers |
| Job outlook and typical pay | Bureau of Labor Statistics | Occupational Outlook Handbook and wage data |
State and local rules
Many states and some cities set their own rules on minimum wage, paid sick leave, pay transparency, final paychecks and more, and those rules can give workers more protection than federal law. Your state labor department is the best place to check. Search for your state's name plus "labor department" and make sure the site ends in .gov. Many states also have their own civil rights or human rights agency that handles discrimination complaints.
Outside the United States
Workplace rules differ widely between countries. Look for your national labor ministry or government employment rights service, and check that you are on an official government site.
When to talk to a lawyer
An employment lawyer can look at the details of your situation, which no website can do. It may be worth contacting one if you have been fired or disciplined after raising a complaint, are asked to sign a severance or separation agreement, think you have been discriminated against, or are owed significant unpaid wages. State and local bar associations often run lawyer referral services, and legal aid organizations help people with limited income.
Keep good records
If a problem is building at work, keep notes as it happens: dates, times, what was said or done, who was there, and copies of relevant emails, schedules and pay stubs you are allowed to keep. Store them somewhere outside work systems that you control, following your employer's rules on confidential information. Clear records help any agency or lawyer understand what happened.
Before it gets that far
Many workplace problems can be raised with a manager or HR first, and our guides on feedback and workload cover those conversations. If a conversation feels unsafe, or you have already tried and nothing changed, go straight to the official sources above.