All Title VII claims must first begin with a Charge of Discrimination filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin.A Virginia employee alleging discrimination under the VA HRA must file a complaint with the Division of Human Rights(DHR) before filing in court. Virginia's equivalent to Title VII is the Virginia Human Rights Act (VHRA). Here, we explore how the VHRA compares to Title VII and highlight key differences. Proving workplace retaliation can be complex and require the knowledgeable guidance of a Virginia employment lawyer. Does Title VII protection from retaliation apply when an employee reports discrimination in the course of performing their job duties? Keep in mind, Title VII also makes it illegal to discriminate based on sex in the payment of wages and benefits. Other protected classes, age, pregnancy, retaliation, etc.