The EEOC also reported that it resolved 90,558 charges of discrimination (compared to the 76,418 filed). In November, the EEOC reported a 19.5% reduction in backlog of private sector charges to 49,607 (its lowest in 12 years) and reported that it had filed 199 lawsuits. The EEOC secured approximately $505M and other relief for over 67,860 victims of discrimination in the workplace in the last fiscal year through litigation. It has 302 active cases on its docket.
As for the pre-litigation resolution of Charges, 6.1% were resolved through settlement and 5.6% were withdrawn by the Charging Party (without a formal settlement) with benefits. Fourteen percent were administratively closed (which likely means that the Charging Party could not be located or had stopped returning calls). Over 70% of Charges were dismissed for lacking probable cause (i.e., lacked merit or proof). All of these statistics are similar with the prior year. Only 3.5% of Charges (approximately 3,113 of the Charges) were found after an investigation to assert probable cause of discrimination. This is an increase over last year. Less than half of these Charges were successfully conciliated prior to litigation. The EEOC’s resolution of Charges in the last fiscal year (prior to litigation) resulted in the recovery of $354M for Charging Parties, which is consistent with recoveries in recent years.
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 be changed or 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.
