EEOC Charges and Enforcement Expected to Increase

Sept. 4, 2009 - PRLog -- Although 2008 saw a record high of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charges, that record is likely to be surpassed by 2010. EEOC charges for 2008 totaled 95,402. As of March 31, 2009, the EEOC had already received 43,956 charges. EEOC officials predict that charges may reach a record high of approximately 102,000 for the fiscal year 2010. Charges historically increase as economic conditions deteriorate. In particular, age discrimination claims tend to rise as companies undergo reductions in force.

Coupled with the increased number of charges will be an emphasis on enforcement. The Obama administration increased funding for fiscal year 2009 to $344 million. Funding of $367 million is proposed for fiscal year 2010. The increased funding is allowing the EEOC to hire additional investigators, attorneys, mediators, and support staff. By the end of fiscal year 2010, the EEOC expects to add approximately 300 employees.

With the increase in EEOC charges and funding, workplace harassment and discrimination training is more important than ever. Employers that create a work atmosphere in which employees are treated lawfully, civilly, and professionally benefit from a reduction in complaints of unlawful discrimination, improved employee morale, and an improved bottom line. ELI®’s flagship harassment and discrimination training program, Civil Treatment® for Managers, teaches participants about relevant workplace issues, including fair employment practices, sexual harassment, and age discrimination. In addition, Civil Treatment® for Employees communicates an organization’s workplace expectations to its employees, teaching them skills to avoid harassment and discrimination issues. To view the full catalog of ELI’s workplace training courses, visit www.eliinc.com.

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ELI specializes in providing interactive classroom and online learning solutions and related services to help organizations build a legal, ethical workplace culture that fosters teamwork and minimizes risk.