The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has reported that it received 75,768 discrimination complaints against private-sector employers in 2006, up from 75,428 complaints in 2005. The increase is the first since 2002, and complaints alleging pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment of men hit all-time highs. All charge categories edged up from 2005 figures, with the exception of age bias and equal pay.
The most frequent types of charges the agency received in 2006 alleged race bias (27,238), sex bias (23,247), and retaliation (22,555). Other frequently cited charge bases were disability bias (15,625), age bias (13,569), national origin bias (8,327), and religion bias (2,541). (Note that individuals may allege multiple types of discrimination in a single complaint.) In addition, 12,025 sexual harassment charges were filed, and a record 15 percent were filed by men. Plus, the EEOC received 4,901 pregnancy discrimination complaints, up from 4,730 in 2005.
The EEOC also reported that in 2006 it recovered approximately $274 million in monetary relief for charging parties—including $44 million through litigation and $230 million through administrative enforcement, including mediation.
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Additional Resource:
Charge Statistics U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission