Jenkins v. S.C. Department of Employment Workforce

**Jenkins v. S.C. Department of Employment Workforce: Court Dismisses Discrimination Case for Missing Deadline** This case involved a worker named Jenkins who filed a discrimination lawsuit against the South Carolina Department of Employment Workforce under Title VII, the federal law that prohibits workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The court threw out Jenkins' case entirely because it was filed too late. After someone files a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), they receive a "right-to-sue letter" that gives them permission to take their case to federal court. However, workers must file their lawsuit within a specific time limit after receiving this letter. Jenkins waited more than three years to file the lawsuit, well past the deadline. The court also denied Jenkins' request to reconsider the decision and rejected the employer's request to impose financial penalties on Jenkins for the late filing. **What this means for workers:** This case highlights the critical importance of acting quickly after receiving a right-to-sue letter from the EEOC. Missing filing deadlines can result in losing your right to pursue a discrimination case entirely, regardless of how strong your claims might be. Workers should consult with an attorney immediately upon receiving EEOC correspondence to understand their deadlines.