EEOC Reports Fewer Disability Discrimination Claims
Workplace discrimination complaints based on disability are on the decline, federal officials say.
For the second year in a row, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said the number of job bias complaints it received related to disability fell.
There were 25,369 such complaints filed with the agency during the 2014 fiscal year, which ran from Oct. 1, 2013, to Sept. 30, 2014, according to data released this month. That’s down from 25,957 the previous year.
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Of the disability-related claims handled by the EEOC last year, the agency said 4,981 resulted in favorable outcomes for those who brought charges. What’s more, officials said they secured over $95 million in monetary awards for people harmed.
Overall, 88,778 charges of workplace discrimination were filed with the EEOC in 2014, nearly 5,000 less than the year before. The drop was likely due in part to a government shutdown during the reporting period, the agency said.
In addition to disability, the EEOC monitors employment discrimination complaints related to race, color, sex, age, religion, genetic information and national origin.
“Behind these numbers are individuals who turned to the EEOC because they believe that they have suffered unlawful discrimination,” said Jenny Yang, chair of the EEOC. “The EEOC remains committed to meaningful resolution of charges and strategic enforcement to eliminate barriers to equal employment opportunity.”
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