The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has unveiled its comprehensive report on the agency’s performance for fiscal year (FY) 2023, spanning from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023.
Aligned with its strategic plan and strategic enforcement plan, the agency’s performance throughout FY 2023 reflects a surge in demand for its services and substantial remedies for workers subjected to discrimination. DC Employment Lawyers point out that noteworthy achievements include fielding over 522,000 public inquiries through the agency’s contact center, alongside a notable 10% rise in the receipt of private sector discrimination charges. Moreover, the EEOC successfully recovered over $665 million on behalf of discrimination victims.
EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows emphasized the agency’s enduring commitment to promoting equal employment opportunity, particularly in the 60th anniversary year of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. She underscored the EEOC’s pivotal role in combating discrimination in workplaces and its critical contribution to shaping a fair and just economy for all.
During FY 2023, the EEOC took significant strides in implementing the recently enacted Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), signed into law by President Biden on December 29, 2022. This legislation grants workers facing limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions the right to reasonable accommodations, provided they do not pose undue hardship to the employer. The EEOC promptly began accepting PWFA charges upon its effective date of June 27, 2023, and launched extensive educational initiatives for both workers and employers.
Key performance highlights include:
- Securing over $665 million for victims of discrimination, marking a substantial 29.5% increase over FY 2022.
- Receiving 81,055 new discrimination charges and addressing more than 233,704 inquiries in field offices, representing respective increases of 10.3% and 6.9% over FY 2022.
- Filing 143 new lawsuits, a remarkable increase of over 50% compared to FY 2022, aimed at addressing individual, non-systemic, and systemic discrimination issues.
- Obtaining over $22.6 million for 968 individuals in litigation, while achieving favorable outcomes in 91% of all federal district court resolutions.
Moreover, the EEOC significantly reduced both private and federal sector inventories, illustrating its commitment to expediting the resolution of discrimination claims.
DC Employment Lawyers note that this report underscores the EEOC’s unwavering dedication to its mission and highlights its pivotal role in advancing equal employment opportunity.