During which step does the plaintiff respond to the employer during an EEOC discrimination claim hearing?

The complaint is the initial step in the EEOC process where the plaintiff formally alleges discrimination. At this stage, the plaintiff outlines their grievances but does not engage in a direct response to the employer's arguments. Thus, this phase does not involve any rebuttal to the employer's position.

Discovery refers to the process where both parties exchange relevant information and evidence prior to the hearing. While this phase is important for preparing the case, it does not involve the plaintiff directly responding to the employer's arguments, which occurs later during the rebuttal.

The investigation is the stage where the EEOC reviews the complaint and gathers information from both parties. Although it plays a significant role in determining the validity of the claims, it does not involve any active response from the plaintiff to the employer's claims, which occurs in the rebuttal phase.