Discrimination can occur anyplace, even in the workplace. For example, workplace discrimination can be based on your gender, race, physical or mental disability. If you feel as though you are victim of workplace discrimination in South Carolina, you should file a claim with the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission. This is the first step in filing a lawsuit against your employer based upon discrimination. Visit a South Carolina Human Affairs Commission office near you to speak with an Intake Investigator. You will be asked to complete a form detailing the discrimination you experienced. Next, your claim will be reviewed and a decision will be made regarding whether the Human Affairs Commission wishes to pursue an employment discrimination claim on your behalf. However, you are still free to pursue a discrimination lawsuit against your employer if the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission does not find adequate grounds to pursue the claim on your behalf. You only have 180 days from the date you experienced the discriminatory behavior to file a claim with the South Carolina Human Affairs Commision. However, if you miss this deadline, but the act took place within 300 days, you can still file a complaint with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission. If you have additional questions about this process, you can visit the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission’s website, http://www.state.sc.us/schac/how_to_file.htm.