The EEOC is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and was put in place to help fight workplace harassment and discrimination. The EEOC cases involve sexual harassment, disabilities, equal compensation, pregnancy, religion and gender. In 2008, there were 325 EEOC cases filed as compared to 465 in 1999. These were various cases, some of which involved other statutes of discrimination laws as well. When a case comes before the EEOC, all of the circumstances are considered before making a decision. In the instance of sexual harassment, the victim does not have to be the person harassed but could be anyone affected by the offensive conduct. There is a wealth of information on the EEOC website but it can get somewhat overwhelming for those not in the legal field. It is a good reference point, however, if you feel you may have a claim. Another option would be to hire an attorney who is familiar with EEOC cases. Being a Government entity, the EEOC cases can take a long time to settle. You must, however, file your claim within 45 days of the discriminatory action. The EEOC will hear cases concerning all types of discrimination in the workplace. In fact, recently, there have been an increase in the number of discrimination cases involving sexual orientation. It never hurts to file a claim. If it does not fall under the jurisdiction of the EEOC, they will point you in the right direction to help you solve your problem.