The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has entered the digital age with a new online portal that allows individuals to submit online initial inquiries and requests for intake interviews with the agency, the first steps for individuals seeking to file a charge of discrimination with EEOC

The new EEOC public portal provides individuals the ability to digitally sign and file a discrimination charge prepared for them. for individuals can update contact information, agree to mediation, upload documents, receive documents and messages, and check on the status of their for individuals charges. In addition to new charges, charges that were filed on or after January 1, 2016 and that are in investigation or mediation also can be accessed through the portal.

The new digital portal will make it easier for individuals to file complaints against employers regarding discrimination against a job applicant or an employee because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, in gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. Individuals can also file charges of discrimination if they feel they are being treated unfairly because they have complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit.

While phone lines and physical visits certainly kept the EEOC busy, this digital portal makes the complaint process more efficient and faster.

It’s another reason why employers with at least 15 employees must be cognizant of potential discrimination in the workplace . The EEOC is doing its part to optimize the use of technology to make it easier for individuals to file charges. It’s up to employers to provide the type of work environment that avoids employees feeling discriminated.