Filing A Complaint & Jurisdiction
If you wish to download then print the complaint form click here. You cannot email in the form, please send it to the Commission office. All complaints, unless otherwise noted, will be cross-filed with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
If you would like to complete and submit the form online click here.
For a complaint to have jurisdiction in the area of:
Employment: The company (Respondent) must be located within the City of Waterloo and employ at least (4) four non –family members.
Public Accommodation, Credit & Education: The company must be located within the City of Waterloo – there is no limit on the number of employees.
Housing: The unit must be located within the City of Waterloo and the landlord must own at least four rental units.
A complaint of alleged discrimination must state that the incident occurred due to one or more protected characteristics:
Race: A group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution. Recognized races include: African American, Asian, Caucasian, and Latino.
Color: The skin pigmentation of a person. Color discrimination may occur within the same race.
SEX - Male or Female: It also includes The Pregnancy Discrimination Act which prohibits discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions. Women affected by pregnancy must be treated the same as others with similar physical limitations. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination. It is unwanted verbal or physical conduct that affects an individual’s performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.
National Origin: An individual’s, or his or her ancestors’, place of origin, and/or having the physical, cultural, or linguistic characteristics of an ethnic group. Citizenship is not a requirement for protection under civil rights laws.
Religion: The freedom to hold and practice one’s own beliefs. The concept of religious practice is defined as the moral or ethical beliefs as to what is right or wrong that are sincerely held by the individual with the same strength as held in traditional religious views. Institutions owned, in whole or in part, by religious organizations may be exempt from discrimination.
Disability: A person is disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act who either has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; Has a record of such impairment; or Is regarded as having such an impairment.
Persons who currently use illegal drugs are NOT covered under the ADA.
Mental Disability is NOT covered under the area of credit.
Age: Being denied equal opportunities for being “too old” or “too young.” Within the State of Iowa age discrimination is 18 years of age and older. Within the federal law age discrimination is 40 years of age or older.
Age is NOT protected under the Federal Fair Housing laws.
Creed: Acceptance, or rejection, due to one’s beliefs.
Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity: Sexual orientation is the actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality. Gender Identity is a gender-related identity of a person, regardless of the person’s assigned sex at birth.
Familial Status: families with children, pregnant women, and people getting custody of children Familial status is ONLY protected in the area of housing.
Retaliation: Differential treatment for having filed a charge, (formally or informally) complained about discrimination or participated in an investigation or court proceedings involving discrimination.