EEOC Charges at All-Time High

12.07.2010
HR & Safety

The EEOC received a record number of private-sector discrimination charges this year, but managed to keep its charge backlog almost unchanged.

The EEOC’s annual Performance and Accountability Report shows that 99,922 charges were filed in FY 2010, which ended September 30, the highest number in the agency’s 45-year history. Despite the record numbers, the EEOC ended the year with 86,338 pending charges, an increase of only 570 charges, or less than 1%. Between fiscal years 2008 and 2009, the pending inventory increased 15.9%.

The agency credits the progress to measures begun in FY 2009, including the aggressive hiring of front-line staff, a significant agency-wide training initiative, renewing emphasis on pre-charge counseling, and identifying, sharing, and implementing best practices in charge handling.

According to the annual report, the EEOC also:

  • Secured a record high of more than $319 million in monetary relief for individuals
  • Expanded its reach to underserved communities by providing educational training and public outreach events to approximately 250,000 people
  • Resolved 9,370 charges through mediation, 10% more than in FY 2009
  • Continued its effort to build a strong systemic enforcement program; at the end of the year, 465 systemic investigations involving more than 2,000 charges were being undertaken
  • Resolved a total of 7,213 requests for hearings in the federal sector, securing more than $63 million in relief for parties who requested hearings

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