EEOC statistics have been released. Total charges for FY 2009 were 93,277. That number is down slightly from FY 2008 when a total of 95,402 charges were filed. But, recall that prior to 2008, the EEOC had never received more than 90,000 charges. The previous highest number was 84,000 in one year. The high number of charges are almost certainly due to the down economy. People losing their jobs are always more upset. Too, in mass layoffs, many employers take that opportunity to get rid of persons who were perceived as marginal. Looking at the number of charges filed is helpful, since the EEOC is generally good at screening out cases lacking the minimal requirements to prove a case of discrimination.
Charges filed alleging national origin, religion, and disability reached record highs. Charges filed alleging age discrimination were the second highest ever.
Data show that the EEOC resolved 85,980 charges. But, that is rather meaningless. "Resolve" means everything from finding a violation and then reaching a settlement to simply issuing a right-to-sue letter. To its credit, the EEOC did receive $294 million, a record amount through administrative enforcement and mediation. Administrative enforcement and mediation refers to cases settled while the charges were still pending with the EEOC. They have vastly improved the quality of their mediation services, at least here in the San Antonio region.
The EEOC did reach a "merit resolution" in 17,428 charges. Merit resolution refers to charges which assigned fault and/or reached the conciliation stage (which also requires some finding of fault). So, out of 93,277 charges, only 17,428 resulted in any sort of finding. That amounts to 18%.
The EEOC filed 281 lawsuits last year. That means across the country, they filed 281 lawsuits. In my experience, they file very few here in San Antonio.