Tennessee Workplace Discrimination — Filing a Complaint
Protected classes, filing deadlines, and how to pursue a discrimination claim under Tennessee and federal law.
Protected Classes
Under Tennessee law, employers cannot discriminate based on: race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, national origin.
Federal laws (Title VII, ADA, ADEA) provide additional protections for employees of employers with 15+ employees (20+ for age discrimination).
Types of Discrimination
Filing a Discrimination Complaint
You have 180 days from the alleged discriminatory act to file a complaint with the Attorney General's Civil Rights Enforcement Division (CRED); separately, a private THRA lawsuit must be filed in chancery or circuit court within one year after the discriminatory practice ceases, and filing a CRED complaint does not extend that one year §4-21-204; §4-21-311. The Tennessee Human Rights Commission was dissolved in 2025; the Attorney General's Civil Rights Enforcement Division now accepts discrimination complaints under the Tennessee Human Rights Act and Tennessee Disability Act, while federal claims are filed separately with the EEOC.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| State Agency | Tennessee Attorney General's Civil Rights Enforcement Division (CRED) |
| Federal Agency | EEOC |
| State Deadline | 180 days from the alleged discriminatory act to file a complaint with the Attorney General's Civil Rights Enforcement Division (CRED); separately, a private THRA lawsuit must be filed in chancery or circuit court within one year after the discriminatory practice ceases, and filing a CRED complaint does not extend that one year §4-21-204; §4-21-311 |
| Federal Deadline | 180 days (300 with deferral) [42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5] |
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Frequently Asked Questions
General answers to common questions. Specific outcomes depend on your facts and timing.
If you have a deadline, court notice, or upcoming hearing, mention it when requesting assistance so timing can be evaluated promptly.
Related guides
- 180 days from the alleged discriminatory act to file a complaint with the Attorney General's Civil Rights Enforcement Division (CRED); separately, a private THRA lawsuit must be filed in chancery or circuit court within one year after the discriminatory practice ceases, and filing a CRED complaint does not extend that one year