Fairfax County, Virginia

Fairfax County is an affluent county in Northern Virginia. As of the 2010 census, Fairfax County had a population of 1,081,726. Its population was estimated to be 1,116,897 in 2013 and is the most populous jurisdiction in the Washington Metro Area. It has a total area of 406 square miles.

Fairfax County is home to headquarters of intelligences agencies such as the Central Intelligence Agency, National Geo-Spatial Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, National Counterterrorism Center, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

It is was the first county in the United States to attain a six-figure median household income and is home to several Fortune 500 Companies, three of which are in Falls Church. It encompasses the city of Fairfax and Falls Church.

Fairfax County has a long and fascinating history. It was formed in 1742 from the northern part of Prince William County. Its oldest settlements include George Washington’s Mount Vernon home and Gunston Hall, the home of George Mason. In 1757, the northwestern two-thirds of Fairfax County were converted to Loudon County, and in 1789, part of Fairfax County was taken by the federal government to form Alexandria County of the District of Columbia, which was reduced in size by the secession of the independent city of Alexandria in 1870 and renamed Arlington County in 1920.

As the federal government expanded in the years after World War II, Fairfax County experienced rapid growth, changing from rural to suburban. Large businesses started rooting themselves in the area, and the opening of Tysons Corner Center made the area a major shopping center.

The economy of Fairfax County is driven by the professional services and technology. Most people who live in the County work for the government or for contractors of the federal government. Major employers in Fairfax County include Volkswagen Group of America, Hilton Worldwide, Northrop Grumman, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, Gannett, Capital One, General Dynamics, ICF International, Freddie Mac, Sallie Mae, ManTech International, and others. Some of the largest employers in Fairfax County are Fairfax County Public Schools, the U.S. government, the County itself, Booz Allen Hamilton, Inova Health System, SAIC, George Mason University and Freddie Mac, respectively.

Employees who have been victims of discrimination, which includes retaliation for reporting discrimination, can seek relief with Fairfax County’s Office of Human Rights and Equity Program’s Human Rights Division (HRD). Formed as the result of the adoption of the Human Rights Ordinance, the division investigates employees’ complaints and attempts mediation between them and their employers. If conciliation is not desired, a board of 12 county members decides if there has been a rights violation at a public hearing. Our office can assist you in filing a complaint and proving a violation with the HRD if you choose to take that route. Another available option is pursuing a claim with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which often works with the HRD to address possible rights violations in the employment context.

If you are a government employee, you have certain rights and protections, based upon your individual position. You might have appeal rights to the Merit Services Protection Board or other substantive rights if you are the victim of misconduct. You also have a specific process to follow to file a discrimination complaint with federal sector EEO that differs from the way that the private sector Equal Employment Opportunity Commission takes and investigates charges. If you are a federal employee who needs help, please contact us and we would be happy to assist you.

Our office is centrally located at 1550 Wilson Blvd #700, Arlington, VA 22209, right on top of the Courthouse Metro Station on the Orange Line and just across the street from the Arlington County Courthouse. Call us at (703) 791-9087 or contact us through our website for directions to the office or a consultation.