EEOC's Charge Filings Reached Record High

By Sally Piefer

A record-high 95,402 private sector discrimination charges were filed with the EEEOC in fiscal year 2008, with increases occurring in every major category of bias, EEOC announced recently. The charges filed in FY 2008 represent a 15 percent increase over the number filed in FY 2007. According to EEOC's final data for FY 2008, age bias charges and retaliation charges accounted for the largest annual increases while charges based on race, sex, and retaliation remained the most frequently alleged violations.

Although many companies are struggling with the current economic situation, this may be the wrong time to eliminate or avoid training management and line supervisors on the many legal compliance issues facing employers in the employment area. In addition to preventing management mistakes that may give rise to legal claims after a negative job action, training can provide an important affirmative defense. Should a company be taken to court, every training dollar spent can be cited as proof of a good-faith effort to comply with worker protections. With discrimination complaints on the rise, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and can save your Company's precious economic resources.

Published: 03/2009