The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reports that it recovered a record $365 million for victims of workplace discrimination in fiscal 2011 through administrative enforcement.

In FY 2011, the EEOC claims it produced historic levels in its year-end results. Most notably, the pending inventory of private sector charges was reduced by more than 8,000 charges over the FY 2010 level, bringing the level to 78,136, which is the first reduction in inventory since FY 2002. These results were achieved despite having received a record number of receipts, 99,947 charges. A total of 112,499 charges were resolved—an increase over the 104,999 charges resolved in FY 2010.

In FY 2011, the EEOC secured more than $58 million in relief for parties who requested hearings in the federal sector. There was a total of 8,113 requests for hearings, more than the 7,707 received in FY 2010. Additionally, the commission’s hearings program resolved a total of 7,672 complaints.

During the last fiscal year, the EEOC received 5,176 appeals of final agency actions in the federal sector, 13.8 percent more than the 4,545 such appeals received in FY 2010. This represented the largest percentage increase in receipts in more than 15 years. In FY 2011, the EEOC applied a more balanced approach to the resolution of the newest and oldest appeals. The agency resolved 4,510 appeals, including 54.4 percent of them within 180 days of their receipt.

To help employers and human resource professionals stay abreast of anti-discrimination policies and procedures, Personnel Concepts publishes a helpful EEO Compliance Program. Get a copy today.