EEOC Releases Statistics Showing Busy FY 2009 Which Favored Employers

Earlier this month, the EEOC released its Fiscal Year 2009 statistics which showed a slight decrease in the number of discrimination charges filed with the agency compared to the prior fiscal year. In terms of the type of allegations, 36% alleged race discrimination, 36% retaliation, 30% sex discrimination, 24% age discrimination and 23% disability discrimination.(Obviously, some Charges alleged more than one factor). Interesting, the EEOC disclosed that it dismissed over 60% of all charges filed after an investigation as lacking reasonable cause of discrimination. Almost 20% of Charges are closed administratively because the Charging Party ceases cooperating or could not be located, etc. Ten percent of cases were closed with settlement and almost 6% of cases resulted in a withdrawal of the Charge with benefits to the Charging Party. Only 4.5% of all charges filed were found to show probable cause of discrimination following an investigation. Nonetheless, the EEOC obtained almost $300M in benefits through settlement, mediation, and litigation for successful Charging Parties, an increase over FY 2008.

Insomniacs can read more about the statistics at http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/1-6-10.cfm.

NOTICE: This summary is designed merely to inform and alert you of recent legal developments. It does not constitute legal advice and does not apply to any particular situation because different facts could lead to different results. Information here can change or be amended without notice. Readers should not act upon this information without legal advice. If you have any questions about anything you have read, you should consult with or retain an employment attorney.