Is this legal advice?

No. This tool points you to the free government agency that handles situations like yours and helps you organize what happened. It does not tell you whether you have a case.

Is anything I type stored?

No. Everything you type stays in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server, nothing is saved, and closing the tab erases it.

Do I need a lawyer to file with an agency?

No. Agencies like the EEOC and state labor departments accept complaints directly from workers, free of charge, without a lawyer.

DocketX

DocketX / What happened at work

Something happened at work. What now?

Getting laid off or pushed out is disorienting, and most people never find out that free government agencies handle exactly these situations, without a lawyer and without a filing fee. Answer three questions and we will point you at the right one, tell you what to do first, and give you a place to write down what happened while you still remember it clearly.

1. What happened?

2. Do you think it happened because of who you are, or something you did?

3. When did it happen?

The part that helps most

Write down what happened, now

Whatever route you take, the single most useful thing you can do today is write the timeline down while it is fresh. Agencies and lawyers both ask for the same things: dates, who said what, and who saw it. This stays in your browser. Nothing is sent anywhere, nothing is saved, and closing this tab erases it. Copy it somewhere safe when you are done.

When did it start, and when did it end? Who was involved, and who saw or heard it? What was said or written, as close to word for word as you can remember? What did it cost you?

Keep the originals of anything you already have: offer letter, handbook, pay stubs, schedules, performance reviews, texts, and emails. If you still have access to a work account, save copies to a personal one before access ends.

Also true

The parts people get wrong

Agencies are free

Filing a complaint with a labor agency or civil-rights agency costs nothing and does not require a lawyer. That is what they are for.

Deadlines are short

Employment deadlines are among the shortest in law, and some claims require an agency filing before you may sue at all. Check the agency's own page today, not next month.

Lawyers are often free up front

Plaintiff-side employment lawyers commonly work on contingency, so cost is rarely the barrier people assume. A consultation usually costs nothing.

This is general information, not legal advice, and DocketX is not a law firm. Using this page creates no attorney-client relationship. Which agency handles a situation, and what deadline applies, depends on facts and on your state. If you need a lawyer and cannot afford one, start at lsc.gov. See our terms of use.