The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has released its analysis of the 91,503 charges of workplace discrimination that were filed during the 2016 fiscal year (running from October 1, 2015 to September 30, 2016).  Of these charges, the most common allegations raised involved retaliation (45.9%), race discrimination (35.3%), disability discrimination (30.7%), sex discrimination (29.4%,) and age discrimination (22.8%).

 

Other claims that were not raised as frequently include national origin discrimination (10.8%), religious discrimination (4.2%), discrimination based on color (3.4%), discrimination under the Equal Pay Act (1.2%), and discrimination under GINA (0.3%).  These percentages add up to more than 100% because some charges allege multiple bases.

 

For the first time, the agency included detailed information about LGBT charges in its year-end summary.  During the last fiscal year, EEOC resolved 1,650 charges and recovered $4.4 million for LGBT individuals who filed sex discrimination charges. Additionally, the data show a steady increase in the four years the agency has been collecting LGBT charge data. From fiscal year 2013 through fiscal year 2016, nearly 4,000 charges were filed with EEOC by LGBT individuals alleging sex discrimination, and EEOC recovered $10.8 million for victims of discrimination.

 

In addition to receiving an overall total of more than ninety one thousand charges of workplace discrimination, EEOC also resolved 97,443 charges and secured more than $482 million through voluntary resolutions and litigation.  The agency filed 114 lawsuits last year, the majority of which alleged violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The agency resolved 139 lawsuits involving discrimination claims during the 2016 Fiscal Year.