Short answer: You do not have to handle this alone. Write down what happened while it is fresh, tell the harasser it is unwelcome if you feel safe doing so, and report it to management or your apprenticeship program early. For discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age 40 or older, disability or genetic information, the EEOC takes charges and says the general deadline is 180 calendar days, extended to 300 calendar days where a state or local agency enforces a similar law. If you are in a registered apprenticeship, federal rules also let you file a written complaint with the Registration Agency, generally within 300 days.
Tsai Electro is an independent learning site. Not affiliated with the EEOC, the U.S. Department of Labor, TDLR or any employer or apprenticeship program. This page is general information, not legal advice. If you are in danger, call 911.
What to write down
What to write down checklist
Check what your notes already include. Keep your notes somewhere private, not only on a work phone or work account. Nothing here is sent or saved.
- The date and time of each incident
- Where it happened
- Who did or said it, and their role
- The exact words or actions, as close as you can
- Who saw or heard it
- How it affected your work, tasks or pay
- Who I told at work, and when, if I have told anyone
- What they said or did after I told them
- Copies of texts, messages or photos
- My employer’s and my program’s complaint notice
Where to turn
| Who | What they do | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Your supervisor, HR or management | Can stop the conduct at work | EEOC encourages reporting harassment to management early |
| Your apprenticeship sponsor or coordinator | Runs the program you are in | In a registered program, the sponsor must give you written notice of your right to file a complaint, with the Registration Agency’s contact details |
| The Registration Agency for a registered program | Takes written discrimination complaints about apprenticeship | Generally within 300 days of the alleged discrimination, under 29 CFR 30.14 |
| The EEOC | Takes charges of employment discrimination | Start with an inquiry through the online portal, an EEOC office or 1-800-669-4000. An inquiry is not yet a charge; the charge itself must be filed within 180 or 300 calendar days, see below |
| A state or local fair employment agency | Enforces state or local anti-discrimination laws | EEOC says many states have one, and with a worksharing agreement a charge filed with one is also filed with the other |
What the EEOC page says counts as harassment
The EEOC says harassment is unwelcome conduct based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, transgender status or pregnancy), national origin, older age (from 40), disability or genetic information. It becomes unlawful when putting up with it becomes a condition of keeping the job, or when it is severe or pervasive enough that a reasonable person would find the workplace intimidating, hostile or abusive. Examples it lists include offensive jokes, slurs, name calling, threats, intimidation, ridicule or mockery, insults and interference with work. The harasser can be a supervisor, a co-worker or a non-employee.
The EEOC also says petty slights and isolated incidents, unless extremely serious, usually do not reach the level of illegality. That does not mean you have to accept them. You can still raise them at work and in your program.
The laws also protect you from retaliation for filing a charge, taking part in an investigation or opposing discrimination. Under Title VII and the ADA these laws cover employers with 15 or more employees; under the age law, 20 or more. The EEOC notes its harassment page is being reviewed and will be revised, so check the current page.
Deadlines, exactly as the agencies state them
- EEOC charge: “In general, you need to file a charge within 180 calendar days from the day the discrimination took place.” The deadline is extended to 300 calendar days if a state or local agency enforces a law that prohibits employment discrimination on the same basis. Age charges have slightly different rules.
- Ongoing harassment: file within 180 or 300 days of the last incident; the EEOC says it will look at all incidents when investigating.
- Internal complaints do not pause the clock: the EEOC says its time limits generally will not be extended while you use an internal grievance, a union grievance, arbitration or mediation. You can do those at the same time.
- Weekends and holidays count, but if the deadline lands on one, you have until the next business day.
- Registered apprenticeship complaint: generally within 300 days of the alleged discrimination, and the Registration Agency may extend this for good cause.
Working out your exact deadline can be hard. The EEOC says to contact a field office as soon as possible if you are not sure how much time is left. It also says it is best to file as soon as you decide to.
A written apprenticeship complaint must include your name and contact details, who you say is responsible, a short description of what happened, when and why you believe it was discrimination, and your signature. An EEOC letter needs similar details plus the number of employees, if known, and it must be signed.
Your hours record if you change employers
Some apprentices end up changing employers after a bad experience. Your hours and supervisors stay important for your license either way.
Starting your first year as a Texas apprentice? The US$19 Texas First-Year Electrical Apprentice Kit gives you printable pages for the first months on the job: a tool-check card, a who-to-ask list with a short stop-and-ask script, emergency-contact and heat-and-rest cards, plus a Tool budget sheet and a Tool inventory sheet (CSV).
Log your Texas Journeyman hours free. A free Tsai Electro account keeps your supervised hours, your online practice scores and your exam date in one place. Start with a five-question check to see which topic to practice next.
The free hours ledger in your Tsai Electro account lets you record each employer, supervisor, work period and hours, shows how far you are from 7,000, 8,000 and 12,000 hours, and exports a CSV or a printable summary. It is your own record, not an official TDLR record, and it does not replace the Experience Verification Form your supervising Master signs.
Later, when you are ready to study for the Journeyman exam: the Texas Journeyman Electrician Exam Practice Pack has 1,000 original practice questions in the PSI two-part format, 10 full timed two-part mocks and step-by-step solutions for every calculation question, built on the 2026 NEC. It is exam prep only. One payment of US$39, no subscription, and you can try 70 questions free with no sign-up.
Can I be fired for reporting harassment?
The EEOC says the anti-discrimination laws prohibit retaliation against people who file a charge, take part in an investigation or oppose practices they reasonably believe are discriminatory. If you think you were punished for reporting, write it down with dates and tell the EEOC or your Registration Agency.
Does reporting to my boss stop the EEOC deadline?
No. The EEOC says its filing deadlines generally are not extended while you use an internal grievance or other process. You can report at work and file with the EEOC at the same time.
I am in a registered apprenticeship. Where do I file?
Federal rule 29 CFR 30.14 says you may file a written complaint with the Registration Agency your program is registered with, generally within 300 days. Your sponsor must give you a notice with that agency’s contact details. You may also be able to file with the EEOC.
