EEOC Reports Workplace-Related Legal Charges Approach Record High

In a January 6, 2010 press release, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) divulged the number of workplace discrimination charges filed nationwide during fiscal year 2009 (October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009).  Cumulatively, the 93,277 charges filed in 2009 reached the second highest number in history, with monetary relief obtained for complainants totaling over $376 million.

Job bias charges, including those filed against state and local governments, reached record highs for charges alleging workplace discrimination based on disability, religion and/or national origin.  Age-based discrimination charges reached the second-highest level ever.

Workplace retaliation was the most frequently cited charge, totaling 33,613 charges.

The EEOC filed 281 new lawsuits against employers last year.

These trends will most likely continue to rise in the coming year.  In the 2010 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, Congress authorized the allocation of an extra $23 million to the EEOC.   The EEOC is now hiring approximately 200 new investigators to help reduce its 70,000 case backlog.

In addition to sexual harassment prevention training and well-worded anti-discrimination policy, employers should also receive training on other forms of discrimination, such as discrimination by age, religion or disability to better protect their organizations from such discrimination and retaliation charges and lawsuits.

If you have any questions regarding anti-harassment, discrimination or retaliation training or any other employment law issues, please contact me or any of our other employment law attorneys.

To obtain a copy of the EEOC’s January 6, 2010 press release, go to http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/1-6-10.cfm.

To obtain a copy of the EEOC’s charge filing statistics, go to http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/statistics/enforcement/index.cfm.

If you have any questions on these or any other employment laws, please contact me or any of our other employment law attorneys.   Best wishes, Cindy Bamforth