02/How it works
The intake process is built to be slow enough to be accurate and fast enough to be usable. You control what you share, you can submit anonymously, and you can check your case status whenever you want.
01/The four stages
Each stage has a distinct purpose. Together they produce a case file that is legible to a reviewer who was not there.
Stage 01
of 04
Tell us what happened and provide relevant information.
A guided intake form captures who you are, who you work for, and what categories your concern falls under. You may submit anonymously at any point.
Personal Information
Employer Information
Complaint Type
Remain anonymous at any point
Stage 02
of 04
Allow users to attach supporting documents, screenshots, photos, or other evidence.
Photographs, screenshots of messages, printed emails, letters, and policy documents can all be attached to your case file.
Photos
JPG, PNG, HEIC
Screenshots
Messages, apps, schedules
PDF Documents
Letters, policies, forms
Emails
EML or exported threads
Other Files
DOCX, XLSX, TXT, MOV
Stage 03
of 04
Show that submitted information can be reviewed and organized.
Your submission is organized into a structured case file so the sequence of events, the people involved, and the supporting evidence can be reviewed together.
Stage 04
of 04
Explain that available resources and possible next steps depend on the situation.
Depending on what your documentation shows, we may point you toward a state agency, a federal agency, or a legal aid organization. What applies depends entirely on your situation.
Available resources and possible next steps depend entirely on your situation. Nothing is guaranteed, and NCWA does not determine what applies. What we can do is make sure your documentation is organised enough that the right organization can evaluate it.
See outside resources02/Privacy and handling
Complaint information is handled through our complaint submission process rather than shared informally.
Case records are accessible to authorized NCWA case reviewers handling intake.
Select remain anonymous and identifying fields become optional throughout.
Every status change is recorded with a date and time on the case timeline.
03/Before you begin
If your question is not here, the resources page lists the outside organizations that can answer it directly.
No. North Carolina Workplace Advocates is an independent private organization. We are not affiliated with the State of North Carolina, NCDOL, OSHA, the EEOC, or any other governmental agency.
No. NCWA does not practice law, does not provide legal representation, and does not give legal advice. We help you document your experience and understand which outside organizations may be able to assist.
Yes. When you select "Remain Anonymous," identifying information becomes optional. Anonymous cases are still assigned a case number so you can return and check status.
Complaint records are only accessible to authorized NCWA case reviewers. In this prototype build, records are stored unencrypted in your own browser, so please do not use real confidential information.
Timelines vary by the nature and volume of the documentation. Your case status page shows the current stage of your case at any time.
The intake form takes roughly 12 to 18 minutes. Nothing is submitted until you confirm it on the final review step.
Attachments accepted up to 25 MB per file