October 31 marked the end of the first month of the federal government’s fiscal year 2011, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that it had filed 19 lawsuits against private employers during the month. Tied for the most lawsuits were disability discrimination and retaliation.
Oddly enough, with the broadening of the definition of disability in the ADAAA (Americans With Disabilities Amendments Act), only one of the discrimination suits was filed under the ADAAA.
Sex discrimination, including sexually hostile work environment claims, was a close second behind the causes of action tied for first. Race and religious discrimination claims were the next most prevalent causes of action, as each appeared in three of the complaints.
Though there were 19 lawsuits, only 18 firms were sued, with one of them facing two lawsuits. Of the 18, only two were Fortune 500 companies.
The lawsuits jointly suggest that employers pay particular attention to disability discrimination issues, as well as to the potential for retaliation claims.
Visit Personnel Concepts’ Harassment and Discrimination section on its Web site for a variety of programs and posters to help you stay in compliance and out of legal trouble with the EEOC.