Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, also known as the “EEOC”, is a federal agency that is responsible for protecting workers from discrimination. Particularly, the governing body upholds:
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The Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1991;
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The Equal Pay Act;
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The Age Discrimination in Employment Act;
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The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008; and
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The Americans with Disabilities Act
EEOC Statistics
A 2020 report released by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, whose job it is to enforce federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination, showed 67,448 charges of workplace discrimination in the following categories:
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Retaliation: 37,632
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Disability: 24,324
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Race 22,064
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Sex: 21,398
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Age: 14,183
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National Origin: 6,377
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Color: 3,562
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Religion: 2,404
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Equal Pay Act: 980
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Genetic Information: 440
These staggering numbers illustrate the prevalence and seriousness of employment discrimination, as well as the need to protect workers from discriminatory practices. Unfortunately, not all claims are reported. Further, not all reported cases result in a favorable outcome for the employee.
The Laws the EEOC Enforces
Collectively, these laws protect employees and job applicants from being discriminated against by employers with 15 employees or more on the basis of:
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Race
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Color
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Religion
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Sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation)
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National origin
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Age (40 or older)
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Disability
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Genetic Information
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Military status
Discrimination on the above bases is prohibited in all forms, including:
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Unfair treatment
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Harassment
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Denial of a reasonable workplace accommodation
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Retaliation
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And more
The EEOC Process
When a worker starts a claim with the EEOC, the process may include mediation or, if mediation isn’t agreed upon or doesn’t resolve the charge, the Commission will investigate the allegations and issue a final decision.
An EEOC attorney will also evaluate your claim to see if there are other grounds for a civil lawsuit through which you may be entitled to compensation.
We Protect Arizona Employees’ Rights
At Robinson Law Offices, we believe that every Arizona employee has the right to be free from discrimination in the workplace. That’s why we pride ourselves on our commitment to protect workers and their jobs from illegal practices.
We offer one-on-one consultations with an experienced Arizona employment lawyer and specialized knowledge of federal, state and local laws. To schedule a consultation with an experienced EEOC lawyer, contact our office today.