Federal Sector EEOC Filings Dip in 2001

June 17, 2002 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The number of complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against the government, fell by around 5% in fiscal year 2001, according to an EEOC report.

The agency’s Annual Report on the Federal Work Force reported that
23,301 federal sector complaints were filed by 17,676 individuals, with the EEOC over the year, compared to the previous year’s 24,524.

Allegations

Reprisal, which constituted about 21% of the federal sector allegations, was the most common basis for allegation. The report also found that:

  • race discrimination complaints by African Americans constituted another 14% of the allegations
  • race discrimination complaints from white employees constituted 6%
  • gender discrimination complaints filed by women constituted 13% of the complaints
  • gender discrimination complaints filed by men made up 9%.
  • age discrimination complaints constituted 13% of the allegations
  • disability discrimination complaints were 14% of all allegations.

Going Postal

Although fewer claims were filed against the government in fiscal 2001, the federal government last year paid out roughly $43 million , including legal costs, compared to $30.5 million in fiscal 2000.

Almost half the complaints filed against the government were filed by US Postal Service workers. USPS workers account for only 30% of the federal workforce. At 11,203, the number of complaints filed by postal workers, increased by 6% increase over the previous year.

ADR

During the pre-complaint process, the report said, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) was attempted in 32% of all matters. When ADR was attempted, 56.1% of those matters were resolved before a complaint was filed, the EEOC reported.

During the formal complaint process, ADR was attempted in 11% of cases. When ADR was attempted during the formal complaint process, 64% of those matter resulted in either a settlement or a withdrawn complaint.

Appealing

In fiscal year 2001, the EEOC received 6,894 appeals, almost 10% less than the 7,575 filed a year earlier, and increased the number of appeals closed by 2%, from 9,148 in fiscal 2000 to 9,333.

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