Last week the EEOC released data for FY2016 indicating that the number of workplace charges filed with the EEOC increased for the second year in a row. According to the data, the EEOC received 91,503 charges of employment discrimination during FY 2016, which is a bit higher than the 89,385 charges it received in FY 2015. The breakdown of charges reflects that once again more charges were filed alleging retaliation than any other category. In FY 2016, there were 42,018 charges filed with the EEOC, which reflected 45.9% of all charges filed. The newly released data also provides information about LGBT claims, and show that the number of LGBT filings in FY 2016 (1,768) were more than double those filed in FY 2013 (808). The EEOC’s press release details other more specific information concerning charge resolutions and litigation.
It will be interesting to see the data for FY 2017 following the new administration’s EEOC priorities. Yesterday, President Trump named Victoria Lipnic as acting chair of the EEOC. Ms. Lipnic has been a Commissioner of the EEOC since 2010, and is well regarded by Democrats. From 2002 to 2009, she was Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment Standards under President Bush. It is likely that she will ultimately be appointed chair because she is the only Republican Commissioner at the EEOC.