The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received a total of 82,792 private sector discrimination complaints in fiscal year 2007, the highest volume of incoming charges since 2002 and the largest annual increase (9 percent) since the early 1990s, the agency reported.
The data also show that the EEOC recovered $345 million in monetary relief for job bias victims.
According to the EEOC's data for fiscal year 2007, allegations of discrimination based on race, retaliation, and sex were the most frequently filed charges, continuing a long-term trend. Additionally, nearly all major charge categories showed double digit percentage increases from the prior year--a rare occurrence. The agency says that jump in complaints may be due to a combination of factors, including greater awareness of the law, changing economic conditions, and increased diversity and demographic shifts in the labor force.
Last year, for the first time, retaliation was the second highest charge category (behind race), surpassing sex-based charges in total filings with EEOC offices nationwide. Historically, race has been the most frequently filed charge since the EEOC became operational in 1965. In addition to the statutory bases of discrimination, charges filed with the EEOC and state and local Fair Employment Practices Agencies (combined) also trended upward for the high visibility issues of pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment.
During fiscal year 2007, pregnancy-bias complaints surged to a record high level of 5,587, up 14 percent from the prior fiscal year's record of 4,901. Sexual harassment filings increased for the first time since fiscal year 2000, numbering 12,510--up 4 percent from the prior fiscal year's total of 12,025. Additionally, a record 16 percent of sexual harassment charges were filed by men, up from 9 percent in the early 1990s.
Basis of Complaint |
FY 2007 |
FY 2006 |
Percentage Increase/Historical Comparison |
Race |
30,510 |
27,238 |
Up 12% to highest level since FY 1994 |
Retaliation |
26,663 |
22,555 |
Up 18% to record high level, double since FY 1992 |
Sex/Gender |
24,826 |
23,247 |
Up 7% to highest level since FY 2002 |
Age |
19,103 |
16,548 |
Up 15%, largest annual increase since FY 2002 |
Disability |
17,734 |
15,575 |
Up 14% to highest level since FY 1998 |
National Origin |
9,369 |
8,327 |
Up 12%, above 9,000 for second time ever |
Religion |
2,880 |
2,541 |
Up 13% to record high level, double since FY 1992 |
Total Complaints |
82,792 |
75,768 |
Up 9%, largest annual increase since FY 1993 |
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