Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. North Gibson School Corporation

**EEOC v. North Gibson School Corporation: Court Limits Agency's Power to Seek Back Pay** The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sued North Gibson School Corporation, claiming the school district discriminated against older employees. The EEOC wanted to recover money damages for workers and force the employer to change its practices. The court ruled against the EEOC on both counts. The judges found that the EEOC cannot seek monetary damages (like back pay) for employees who failed to file their discrimination complaints within the required time limits. The court also dismissed the EEOC's request for an injunction requiring policy changes, ruling that issue was no longer relevant. This decision matters for workers because it highlights the importance of filing discrimination complaints quickly. Federal law requires employees to file charges with the EEOC within 180 or 300 days of discrimination (depending on the state). Missing these deadlines can prevent both individual workers and the EEOC from recovering money damages later. Workers who believe they've faced age discrimination or other workplace discrimination should contact the EEOC promptly to preserve their rights. The ruling also shows that even when a government agency takes up a case, strict filing deadlines still apply.