The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission stated that during its 2016 fiscal year, it had resolved 97,443 allegations of employment discrimination around the country. The agency also obtained over $482 million for individuals who were subject to some form of discrimination in local, state or federal government or private workplaces. The most frequent charges were those pertaining to racial bias, discrimination due to disability and retaliation by employers.
During the same period, EEOC attorneys and staff members resolved 139 lawsuits and filed 86 lawsuits claiming discrimination. Of the lawsuits that were filed, 55 were individual suits and 31 involved multiple claimants or discriminatory policies.
Out of the $482 million that was recovered for discrimination victims, $347.9 million was obtained through settlements, conciliation and mediation for victims of employment discrimination who were employed in the private sector or in government workplaces. Through litigation, $52.2 million was recovered for workers, and $82 million was obtained for federal employees and claimants.
When the end of its fiscal year arrived, the EEOC had 168 active cases on its dockets, 28.6 percent of which pertained to challenges to systemic discrimination. Another 19 percent involved multiple victims. The agency stated that it achieved successful results in 90.6 percent of all of its lawsuit resolutions. Mediation is a form of resolution that the EEOC continue to use with employers. The success rate for its mediation program was 76 percent and resulted in conserved resources for workers, employer and the organization.
An employment law attorney may assist a client who was a victim of workplace discrimination by filing a complaint with either the EEOC or the applicable state agency. Financial compensation may be pursued for discrimination under any of the protected classes, such as race, age, sex, sexual orientation, religion or national origin.