News
December 3, 2010
EEOC Charges Up to Nearly 100,000 in 2010
For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, the EEOC reports that 99,922 employment discrimination charges were filed with the agency. This is an increase of 7% over the number of charges filed in 2009 (there was a small decline of 2.2% in new charges filed compared to 2008).
The EEOC believes the increase is attributable to multiple factors, including new statutory discrimination claims being handled by the agency (2008 Americans with Disability Act Amendments, the 2008 Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009), as well as the agency's improved accessibility through internal processes.
Many employers would quickly add that the economic downturn and increased unemployment in 2008-present are spurring more employees to consider legal claims, regardless of whether they have merit.
View all news items by Bob E. Lype