Also reported, and of interest to employers, is that alleged discrimination based on disability, religion, and/or national origin reached all time highs this past fiscal year. The number of charges alleging age-based discrimination reached the second highest level.
Why are discrimination case filings at near-historic totals? The EEOC suggests several reasons including:
- Greater accessibility of the EEOC to the public
- Current economic conditions
- Increased diversity and demographic shifts in the labor force
- Employees' greater awareness of their rights under the law
- Changes to the EEOC's intake practices that reduce the steps necessary for an individual to file a charge
The most frequently filed claims reported in FY 2009:
- Discrimination based on race, 36%
- Retaliation, 36%
- Sex-based discrimination, 30%
The EEOC states that although this past FY year they resolved the second highest number of filed charges in the past 20 years, as well as obtaining the second highest number of claims for victims, there is still much work to do for the future. "Equal employment opportunity remains elusive for far too many workers, and the Commission will continue to fight for their rights. Employers must step up their efforts to foster discrimination-free and inclusive workplaces, or risk enforcement and litigation by the EEOC," said EEOC Acting Chairman, Stuart J. Ishimaru.
