EEOC to get more involved with small businesses

Thanks to a new internal task force, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will focus on expanding and refining outreach and technical assistance to small businesses. As stated in a mid-December announcement, the Small Business Task Force will “work to find ways in which the agency could better collaborate with the small business community to ensure compliance with federal antidiscrimination laws.”

On its to-do list:

=> Determine how to utilize new technology to broaden outreach
=> Develop technical assistance and training initiatives
=> Identify specialized approaches to aid small businesses owned by women and minorities
=> Pinpoint specialized approaches for micro businesses (those with 50 or fewer employees)
=> Enhance small business information and training on the EEOC’s website

As far as the types of businesses that will be on the EEOC's radar, the agency said the task force will focus on newly established small businesses, as well as those that can't afford lawyers or human resource personnel.

“The Task Force demonstrates our commitment to strengthening the lines of communication with small business owners and educating them about their responsibilities, including the benefits of preventing and resolving discrimination claims,” EEOC Chair Jacqueline A. Berrien said.

At the same time, the EEOC considers the task force to be particularly timely, citing that the nation's economic recovery depends on the ability of the small business community to survive and thrive. If there are new opportunities for the EEOC to better serve small businesses, it wants to identify and act on them.

EEOC to get more involved with small businesses

EEOC reports record number of discrimination filings for FY 2011

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released fiscal year 2011 statistics, compiled in its annual Performance and Accountability Report (PAR). The EEOC handled a record 99,947 discrimination charges in fiscal year 2011 (ending September 30) -- the highest number in the agency's 46-year history. The EEOC also recovered more than $364.6 million in monetary benefits for victims of workplace discrimination -- again, the highest level in the agency's history. The fiscal year ended with 78,136 pending charges, a 10 percent decrease from FY 2010 (and the first such reduction since 2002).

Race charges were the most common claims filed in 2011 (36%), followed by sex (29%), disability (25%) and then age (23%). National origin, religion and Equal Pay Act claims all registered less than 5% of all charges filed.

“I am proud of the work of our employees and believe this demonstrates what can be achieved when we are given resources to enforce the nation’s laws prohibiting employment discrimination,” said EEOC Chair Jacqueline A. Berrien.

The major takeaway in all this? Be especially diligent about training your employees and managers on proper, non-discriminatory behavior and document, document, document. The bad economy may be driving the bump in discriminatory charges. And unless the economy picks up in 2012, this trend may continue.

EEOC reports record number of discrimination filings for FY 2011