Promoting Access, Equity, and Respect for All L&I Customers
Civil Rights Program information in other languages
The Civil Rights Program strives to ensure L&I complies with federal and state laws and regulations related to civil rights and discrimination against national origin, race, color, language, sex, gender, religion, age, disability, and other protected classes.
Through impartial investigation, intervention, and education, we promote the highest standard of equity and integrity in the services offered by L&I and its paid providers.
L&I is not associated with the Immigration and Naturalization Service; we do not accept language access services, even at no cost, from federal immigration enforcement authorities. We will not report any customer's immigration related information to the federal government or to a local police authority; it is our intent to ensure all of our customers are provided access to all our programs and services.
File a civil rights discrimination complaint
If you believe an L&I employee or L&I-paid provider (doctor, vocational counselor, or interpreter, for example) has discriminated against you, file a discrimination complaint in one of the following ways:
- Fill out a Civil Rights Discrimination Complaint Form (F270-001-000) and mail it to the address listed at the top of the form or email it to CivilRights@Lni.wa.gov.
- Call us at 1-855-682-0778 or email us at CivilRights@Lni.wa.gov.
- Visit your nearest L&I office.
We accept third party complaints and referrals.
Questions About the Civil Rights Program and Discrimination Complaints
- Apprentices
- Contractors
- Employees
- Employers
- Homeowners
- Injured workers
- Tradespeople
- You have requested — but believe you did not receive — services in your preferred language (including sign language services) from any L&I employee or L&I-paid provider,
and/or - You believe that an L&I employee or L&I-paid provider excluded you, denied access, or treated you differently because of your national origin, race, color, language, sex, gender, religion, age, disability, or other protected class.
- Age
- Color
- Disability
- Gender
- Language
- National origin
- Race
- Religion
- Sex
- Other protected classes
- U.S. Department of Justice (1-855-856-1247)
- U.S. Department of Labor (202-693-6500)
- Washington State Office of the Attorney General (1-800-551-4636)
- Washington State Human Rights Commission (1-800-233-3247)
We accept complaints filed by anybody who does business or receives services from L&I, for example:
We also accept third party complaints and referrals.
You should consider filing a complaint if:
Discrimination complaints can be filed against L&I employees and L&I-paid providers (for example, medical providers, interpreters, vocational specialists).
Complaints of discrimination and/or denial of meaningful access based on:
Discrimination complaints filed against employers.
Please contact the Human Rights Commission to file a discrimination complaint against your employer.
You have up to 180 days from the date services were denied and/or discrimination occurred to file a complaint.
If we do not have authority to investigate your complaint, we may refer you to the appropriate agency.
We understand that it takes a lot of courage to file a complaint. The Civil Rights Program is independent to other programs at L&I and conducts thorough and impartial investigations.
The investigator assigned to you will ask to meet with you in person or over the phone to gather information on the occurred events.
Investigations typically take up to 90 days to finish, but some cases may take longer to resolve.
No, the form is optional. A discrimination complaint can be filed directly with the Civil Rights Program by phone, email, or in person.
Yes, you can also file a discrimination complaint with:
You can file a discrimination complaint with these groups before, during, or after L&I's investigation.
You can file a discrimination complaint against your employer or other group with:
L&I does not contract with nor accept language access services, even at no cost, from any federal immigration-enforcement authority.
Federal immigration-enforcement authority means any officer, employee, or person otherwise paid by or acting as an agent of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including but not limited to its sub-agencies (for example, Immigration & Customs Enforcement and Customs & Border Protection) and any present or future divisions charged with immigration enforcement.
Review our informational brochure Civil Rights Program at L&I (F270-006-000).