Oklahoma Anti-Discrimination Act — protected classes
The Oklahoma Anti-Discrimination Act makes it unlawful for an employer to fail or refuse to hire, discharge, or otherwise discriminate against an individual with respect to compensation or terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (at least 40 years), genetic information, or disability. The Act covers employers of any size — unlike federal Title VII, the ADA, and the ADEA, which require 15 or 20 employees — making it broader in employer coverage than its federal counterparts.
Source: 25 Okla. Stat. §§ 1301, 1302
Administrative filing requirement — 180-day deadline
To have standing to sue for discrimination under the Oklahoma Anti-Discrimination Act, an employee must file a charge with the Attorney General's Office of Civil Rights Enforcement (OCRE) within 180 days from the last date of alleged discrimination. This is a mandatory exhaustion requirement — no lawsuit may be filed in state court without first obtaining a Notice of Right to Sue from OCRE. If the charge is not resolved within 180 days of filing, OCRE must issue the Notice upon request. Once issued, the employee has 90 days to file suit in state district court.
Source: 25 Okla. Stat. § 1350