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ARTICLE · 02 SEPTEMBER 2026

Reported EEOC Procedural Changes May Shorten Employer Response Times

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is reportedly preparing to cut employer response deadlines in half—from 30 days to just 15 days—while simultaneously restricting extension requests. This procedural shift could fundamentally alter how organizations investigate workplace discrimination charges and prepare their defenses, particularly in complex cases involving multiple employees or extensive documentation.

United StatesEmployment and HR

Employers responding to discrimination charges filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) may soon face significantly shorter deadlines, according to reports of an upcoming nationwide procedural change. While the agency has not yet publicly released the policy, the expected changes could dramatically affect how employers and counsel respond to EEOC investigations.

Under current practice, employers generally have 30 days to submit a position statement, which is a written response explaining the company’s position regarding the allegations in a Charge of Discrimination. Although extensions have become more difficult to obtain in recent years, EEOC offices have often granted additional time when warranted by circumstances and an employer has been working in good faith to respond as soon as possible.

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