April 10, 2019
EEOC Publishes FY 2018 Charge Statistics
On April 10th, the U.S. EEOC published its annual charge statistics. Most of the headlines and articles I’ve read, address the 13.6% increase in sexual harassment charges filed with the EEOC. Others tout the fact that sex discrimination charges were the second most frequently filed charge. What I find less frequently addressed and, perhaps, more troubling is that the margins distinguishing second, third and fourth place are so narrow, let’s just call it a three-way tie.
Sex discrimination charges constituted 32.3% of all charges filed with the EEOC. Disability discrimination charges were 32.2% as were disability-based charges. My message: Let’s not lose sight of the fact that all forms of unlawful harassment are equally egregious. Let’s not let the #MeToo movement overshadow that fact. Be sure to address all forms of unlawful harassment in your training programs. And hold all employees and managers accountable to practicing workplace civility.
