EEOC RELEASES 2009 STATISTICS: OVER 93,000 CLAIMS FILED
The EEOC released fiscal year 2009 statistics this week: although the number of claims was down 2% from 2008's record level, 2009 had the second highest number of complaints ever filed with the EEOC. According to the New York Times, disability claims rose by 10% to 21,451. This is most likely due to the passage of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, which expanded the coverage of the ADA. The most frequently filed claims were for race, sex and retaliation. National origin claims rose by about 5%, while religious claims rose by less than 1%. Stuart Ishimaru, acting chair of the EEOC, was quoted by the New York Times as saying that equal employment opportunity "remains elusive for far too many workers", while urging employers to end discrimination at work.
Practice pointer. I anticipate that EEOC claims will remain relatively constant in 2010, and may even increase, based on several factors, including the state of the economy, additional funding for the EEOC, and increased awareness within the workforce of changes in the law and the ability to file claims with the EEOC.
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