The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has recently released statistical data on its Enforcement/Litigation for Fiscal Year 2016 (October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2016). A total number of 91,503 Charges of Workplace Discrimination were filed in FY 2016, which is approximately a 3% increase in Charges from FY 2015. Furthermore, over the twelve (12) month Fiscal Year period, the EEOC resolved 97,443 Charges and secured more than $482 Million for affected Employees. The EEOC responded to well over 585,000 calls and more than 160,000 inquiries to its various Field Offices.

With regard to the specifics of Charges filed, almost half or 45.9% – 42,018 Charges alleged Retaliation; 35.5% – 32,309 Charges alleged Race; 30.7% – 28,073 Charges alleged Disability; 29.4% – 26,934 Charges alleged Sex, and 22.8% – 20,857 Charges alleged Age. Those were the “top five”. There were 10.8%, or 9,840, Charges alleging National Origin; 4.2%, or 3,825, Charges alleging Religion; 3.4%, or 3,102, Charges alleging Color; 1.2%, or 1,075, Charges alleging Violations of the Equal Pay Act and .3%, or 238, Charges alleging Genetic Discrimination.

It is also interesting to note that for the very first time, the EEOC included data about the burgeoning LGBT scenario. During Fiscal Year 2016, the EEOC resolved 1,650 Charges of alleged LGBT Discrimination and recovered $4.4 Million for these Workers. This is a demonstration of a “steady increase” in LGBT type Charges over the last four (4) years, rising from 808 Charges filed in Fiscal Year 2013 to 1,100 filed in Fiscal Year 2014, 1,412 in 2015 and 1,768 in Fiscal 2016. Of the almost 4,000 total Charges that had been filed between Fiscal Year 2013 through Fiscal 2016, there has been a recovery of $10.8 Million for LGBT Discriminatees.

The EEOC takes the position that, despite progress that has been made in ferretting-out discrimination, there is a continuing challenge in combatting ongoing Employment Discrimination.

Questions? Contact Attorney Walter J. Liszka in our Chicago office at (312) 629-9300 or be email at waliszka@wesselssherman.com