JOB BIAS CHARGES RISE 9% IN 2007, EEOC REPORTS

Discrimination Charges Highest in Five Years; Agency Obtains $345 Million for Victims

WASHINGTON  – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received a total of  82,792 private sector discrimination charge filings last fiscal year, the  highest volume of incoming charges since 2002 and the largest annual increase  (9%) since the early 1990s, the agency reported today as part of its Fiscal  Year 2007 enforcement and litigation statistics. The data, available online at www.eeoc.gov/stats/charges.html, also show that the EEOC recovered  $345 million in monetary relief for job bias victims.

“Corporate America needs to do a better job of  proactively preventing discrimination and addressing complaints promptly and  effectively,” said Commission Chair Naomi C. Earp. “To ensure that equality of  opportunity becomes a reality in the 21st century workplace,  employers need to place a premium on fostering inclusive and  discrimination-free work environments for all individuals.”

According to the EEOC’s FY 2007 data, allegations of discrimination  based on race, retaliation, and sex were the most frequently filed charges,  continuing a long-term trend.  Additionally, nearly all major charge categories showed double digit  percentage increases from the prior year -- a rare occurrence. The jump in charge filings may be due to a  combination of factors, including greater awareness of the law, changing  economic conditions, and increased diversity and demographic shifts in the  labor force.

Last year, for the first time,  retaliation was the second highest charge category (behind race), surpassing  sex-based charges in total filings with EEOC offices nationwide. Historically, race has been the most  frequently filed charge since the EEOC became operational in 1965. In addition to the statutory bases of discrimination,  charges filed with the EEOC and state and local Fair Employment Practices  Agencies (combined) also trended upward for the high visibility issues of  pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment.

     
• Recovered      approximately $345 million in total monetary relief for charging parties,      up 26% from the prior year’s total of $274 million. Nearly $55 million was      obtained through EEOC litigation and more than $290 million through      administrative enforcement, including mediation. Additionally, the agency obtained      substantial non-monetary relief, such as employer training, policy      implementation, reasonable accommodations, and other measures to promote      discrimination-free workplaces.
     
• Resolved      72,442 private sector charges, with a historically high merit factor rate      of 23%. Merit factor resolutions include mediation and other settlements      and cause findings, which, if not successfully conciliated, are considered      for litigation. Most meritorious charges      are resolved voluntarily with employers prior to any EEOC litigation.
     
• Resolved      a record 8,649 charges through its voluntary National Mediation Program      (up 5% from the prior year’s record high), with a user satisfaction rate      of 96% indicating that nearly all participants would return to the program      in the future. At the end of FY      2007, the EEOC had entered into 1,269 Universal Agreements to Mediate      (UAMs) with employers nationwide (154 national/regional UAMs and 1,115      local UAMs) -- a 15% increase from the FY 2006 level.
     
• Filed      336 merits lawsuits (direct suits, interventions and other enforcement      actions), including 116 class cases involving multiple aggrieved parties      or victims of discriminatory policies. Significant injunctive and remedial      relief was also achieved through litigation settlements, jury trials and      court rulings. The agency’s litigation program increasingly focused on class      and systemic cases as part of its national law firm model.
     
• Conducted a record 5,658 outreach, education and  technical assistance events nationwide, reaching nearly 280,000 people. The EEOC’s national outreach initiatives  include E-RACE (Eradicating Racism And Colorism from Employment), Youth@Work,  and LEAD (Leadership for the Employment of Americans with Disabilities). Other outreach programs focused on  EEOC-enforced laws, mediation, and small business.

The EEOC  enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information  about the federal agency is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.