What Employers Need to Know: The Continuing Violation Doctrine

Most employment discrimination claims live or die on timing. Under federal law, employees must file administrative charges within strict deadlines, often 45 days for federal employees or 180 to 300 days under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Miss the window, and the claim is barred. But there is a doctrine that lets plaintiffs reach back in time, pulling otherwise stale allegations into a live case. It is called the continuing violation doctrine, and the Seventh Circuit just gave employers a fresh reason to understand how it works. Learn more on our Labor & Employment blog.