WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is reporting a spike in its outreach and enforcement work in fiscal year 2018, which included responding to 200,000-plus likely discrimination claims and securing $505 million and other relief for nearly 70,000 victims of workplace discrimination.
The agency announced it has seen an "increased demand" in potential harassment claims as well a demand for its newest program, Respectful Workplaces Training, which reached nearly 10,000 employees and supervisors in the workplace. The EEOC also said its starting of a new nationwide online Public Portal caused the agency to see a 30 percent increase in inquiries and investigations.
"Many people in thousands of workplaces around the country depend every day on the work of the EEOC," acting chair Victoria Lipnic said in a statement. "I am proud that the EEOC met the increased demand for our expertise, for information and training and for strong enforcement to combat all forms of discrimination, including sexual harassment."
According to the EEOC, the agency's legal team was able to reach resolutions in more than 140 "merit lawsuits" that increased by nearly 200 in the agency's 2018 fiscal year. The agency also filed 29 amicus curiae briefs on various cases relating to employment discrimination, the EEOC said.
The EEOC will detail its work further in its 2018 performance accountability report that comes out later this month, the agency said.