Anyone who believes that they have experienced illegal discrimination can file a complaint online or contact the Human Relations Office for more information. Sioux Falls City Ordinance requires that complaints be filed within six months of the alleged discrimination. After a complaint is filed, mediation is offered to the Complainant (the person alleging to have experienced discrimination) and the Respondent (the person alleged to have committed the discriminatory act). Human Relations Office staff investigate the facts and information regarding the complaint – this may involve speaking with witnesses or requesting additional information from the Respondent. The findings of the investigation are then reviewed by the Human Relations Commission. If probable cause is found, both parties are given the option to pursue conciliation or move to court. If conciliation is unsuccessful, parties again are given the option to move the matter to court or to request a public hearing by the Commission.
You may initiate a complaint online or download a PDF of our intake questionnaire and submit it to our office via email or mail.
Submit a Complaint Online
EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION - COMPLETE ONLINE
HOUSING DISCRIMINATION - COMPLETE ONLINE
OTHER DISCRIMINATION - COMPLETE ONLINE
*Other Discrimination can be Public Accommodations, Public Service or Education
Employment Discrimination Housing Discrimination Other Discrimination
Presentar una queja en línea
DISCRIMINACIÓN LABORAL - COMPLETO EN LÍNEA
DISCRIMINACIÓN EN VIVIENDA - COMPLETO EN LÍNEA
OTRA DISCRIMINACIÓN - COMPLETO EN LÍNEA
Spanish Versions
Employment Discrimination - Spanish Housing Discrimination - Spanish Other Discrimination - Spanish
FAQs
No. There is no cost to any of the services provided by Human Relations, including complaint processing.
Yes. An individual has six months from the date of the alleged discriminatory practice to file a complaint with Human Relations.
No. Filing a complaint with Human Relations is an administrative process.
The goal of the HRC is to make any person has suffered discrimination “whole”. Making whole means to put the person who has been discriminated against in the position they would have been had the discrimination not occurred. The HRC seeks to facilitate resolution of disputes through mediation and conciliation. These dispute resolution methods can yield settlement or mediation agreements wherein the parties agree to some kind of compensatory damages.
Compensatory damages include such things as out-of-pocket expenses caused by the discrimination, employment reinstatement, alternative housing solution, or back pay. HRC does not have authority to award monetary damages for pain and suffering or for punitive damages.
If it is found that discrimination is ongoing, the Commission may obtain a court order to force Respondent to cease its discriminatory practices. If Respondent fails to follow decisions of the Commission or court orders, the Commission has authority to request that the City Attorney prosecute the matter and seek civil penalties for failure to comply.