News Note: Retaliation, Sexual Harassment Claims Rise

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reports that the number of cases involving sexual harassment and retaliation is increasing. Retaliationclaims, the fastest-growing type of complaint filed with the EEOC, have gone up more than 77% between 1992 and 1999. A total of 11,096 retaliation charges were filed in 1992, but by 1999, the number had jumped to 19,694. Plus, retaliation claims represented 25% of all charges filed with the agency in 1999. And the number of sexual harassment cases filed with the EEOC rose over 64% between 1992 and 1999. The cost to employers in harassment settlements with the EEOC also increased dramatically, from $12.7 million in 1992 to $50.3 million in 1999.