WASHINGTON, March 3, 2008

Job Discrimination Complaints Jump 9%

Race, Retaliation And Sex Discrimination Most Frequent Allegations Against Private Employers

  •  (CBS/AP)

(AP)  Federal job discrimination complaints filed by workers against private employers shot up 9 percent last year, the biggest annual increase since the early 1990s.

The data being released Wednesday by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission show allegations of discrimination based on race, retaliation and sex were the most frequent, continuing a long-term trend.

Overall, the commission said complaints increased from 75,768 charges filed in 2006, to 82,792 last fiscal year. That's the highest complaint level since 2002, and the biggest annual percentage increase since 1993.

"Corporate America needs to do a better job of proactively preventing discrimination and addressing complaints promptly and effectively," said the commission chairwoman, Naomi Earp.

Quote

It's possible that there's a trend developing here and employers need to be aware of this.

David B. Grinberg, EEOC
Complaints had been trending downward until 2006, when they increased slightly and then spiked last year. "It's possible that there's a trend developing here and employers need to be aware of this," said commission spokesman David B. Grinberg.

Allegations of discrimination based on race were the leading category of complaints - 30,510 in all, or 37 percent of all filings last year, said the commission, which enforces federal anti-discrimination laws among private employers.

Charges based on retaliation accounted for 26,663 of the complaints, about 32 percent of all filings with the commission. For the first time retaliation was the second most frequent complaint, surpassing sex-based charges. Retaliation charges were up 18 percent from the previous year.

Sex discrimination complaints totaled 24,826 of the filings, 30 percent of the overall cases.

Several other categories tracked by the commission also saw double-digit percentage increases from the previous year, including complaints about age and disability discrimination. Complaints about discrimination based on pregnancy saw a big increase, up 14 percent to 5,587 charges last year - a record high.

The only major category to see a decrease was complaints involving equal pay, which slipped from 861 in 2006 to 818 last year, accounting for one percent of all cases filed.

During 2007, 72,442 private sector discrimination complaints were resolved; the commission recovered approximately $345 million in compensation for those who had filed discrimination charges.

© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 29 Comments
by mom_o_truth March 7, 2008 1:08 PM EST
If you are a productive HUMAN BEING and you feel you are not being treated fairly, quit your job and go elsewhere or start your own company.
Posted by Kennedy7955................

You mean a 21st century slave ?
Reply to this comment
by kennedy7955 March 7, 2008 11:09 AM EST
Discrimination is dead. The only color business cares about is green. Whether you black, white, brown - male, female, straight or gay, here legally or not, all that corporate America cares about is what you can do to bring in cash.

If you are a productive human being and you feel you are not being treated fairly, quit your job and go elsewhere or start your own company.

If you aren''t productive maybe under-educated, perhaps lack talent, would much prefer a hand-out, then apply for welfare, food stamps, section 8 housing -go sue someone, slip and fall in a grocery store, rob a store, cheat someone, make some false accusation or complain you are a victim of discrimination.

Your life is what you make of it with rare exception.
Reply to this comment
by wyteagle March 6, 2008 8:53 PM EST
we need to stop the influx of hispanics into this country. they are a huge drain on our social problems. "why work when you can make almost as much being on welfare".
Reply to this comment
by omega39-2009 March 6, 2008 7:05 PM EST
What I want to know is that since the so called "Economy, as reported by the liberal media" is not doing so well, how many of the 82K complaints are filed by blacks?

I would not hesitate to say that at least 90 percent, or greater, are the ones that filed these complaints......

Posted by poopusbuttus

The companies here are laying off Americans and keeping their H1Bs because they work cheaper.
Reply to this comment
by my2centss March 6, 2008 6:24 PM EST
"That''s the highest complaint level since 2002, and the biggest annual percentage increase since 1993. "

Wow. The biggest since Bill Clinton was in office. So during Bill''s term it was worse. Go ahead, you can blame Bush if you want.
Reply to this comment
by watcher269-2009 March 6, 2008 11:01 AM EST
Imagine that - In a White Republican America - Racism!

I can''t imagine why with the Extreme Religious Rights KKK membership or all the ex-Nazi''s in "Their" Churches.

Wow!
Reply to this comment
by grammawhamma March 6, 2008 7:24 AM EST
Nancy_Naive: Okay maybe I''m having a blond moment (even though I''m brunett)...what is with the 86 43?
Reply to this comment
by turn_2_jesus March 6, 2008 1:16 AM EST
Federal job discrimination complaints filed by workers against private employers shot up 9 percent last year, the biggest annual increase since the early 1990s.

I think it rose more than that!
Reply to this comment
by valentin73 March 6, 2008 12:42 AM EST
As if the EEOC will END discrimination!!!!! lol

The EEOC is spending tax dollars to tell me "corporate America needs to do a better job"

Discrimination is everywhere, not just at the Federal Work Place.............
Reply to this comment
by old-chick March 6, 2008 12:40 AM EST
I notice age discrimination was not mentioned -- and believe me, it exists. The older members of the workforce that have been faced with downsizing and having to seek new employment know it all too well. Oh, they claim they don''t do it, but you can see it in their eyes if you''re lucky enough to get an interview.
Reply to this comment
by walt1944-2009 March 6, 2008 12:10 AM EST
Thanks to the Great Emperor Bush II and his stupidly-loyal neocon Fascist Nazi Republicans, business has become convinced that they are running the country, thanks to "privatization" and thus can do anything it wants with no oversight.

I have heard all sorts of "horror" stories with employers not saving jobs for military who go to serve their country, forcing employees to work long hours for no pay, deduct for medical, dental, and pension, but pocket the money for themselves, pay below the minimum wage, and the attitude is "So what, it''s just BUSINESS!".

And we all have the Great Emperor Bush II and his neocon Fascist Nazi followers to thank for all this!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!
sig heil, McCain???
Reply to this comment
by walt1944-2009 March 6, 2008 12:09 AM EST
Thanks to the Great Emperor Bush II and his stupidly-loyal neocon Fascist Nazi Republicans, business has become convinced that they are running the country, thanks to "privatization" and thus can do anything it wants with no oversight.

I have heard all sorts of "horror" stories with employers not saving jobs for military who go to serve their country, forcing employees to work long hours for no pay, deduct for medical, dental, and pension, but pocket the money for themselves, pay below the minimum wage, and the attitude is "So what, it''s just BUSINESS!".

And we all have the Great Emperor Bush II and his neocon Fascist Nazi followers to thank for all this!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!
sig heil, McCain???
Reply to this comment
by downsteamjim March 5, 2008 11:15 PM EST
New campaign slogan: White oppressors for Hussien.
Reply to this comment
by keithle1 March 5, 2008 11:09 PM EST
If this country was as full of racists as I always here it is wouldn''t Obama be dead by now? God knows we have enough guns. Close to 300 million firearms I believe.
Reply to this comment
by downsteamjim March 5, 2008 11:07 PM EST
To McVet: Hitler is dead. Get over it. If you can''t; grow a little mustache, startch your brown shirt, stand in front of a mirror, and do your little sieg hiels. The other option is come up with something new to say. Have a pleasant day.
Reply to this comment
by keithle1 March 5, 2008 11:07 PM EST
Stop having babies. Birth control, please. I beg you.
Reply to this comment
by bhappy2-2 March 5, 2008 10:48 PM EST
Of course people are complaining. If you aren''t an ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADER you can''t get hired. Americans require a living wage, not a pittance to work. If you ain''t ILLEGAL you ain''t SHlT!
Reply to this comment
by poopusbuttus March 5, 2008 10:38 PM EST
This article is very misleading. Of the 82, 792 complaints that were filed in 2006, CBS conveniently leaves our the racial factor in these complaints.

What I want to know is that since the so called "Economy, as reported by the liberal media" is not doing so well, how many of the 82K complaints are filed by blacks?

I would not hesitate to say that at least 90 percent, or greater, are the ones that filed these complaints......
Reply to this comment
by bizzzz-2009 March 5, 2008 10:36 PM EST
Of course job descrimination claims are on the rise.
They will continue to rise as long as we allow every third world mutant into this country while the media simultaneously bombards them with decadent garbage out of Hollywood-garbage that indundates their psyche and makes them feel inadequate and discriminated.
If you don''t think rap videos encourage drug dealing, violence and underage ***, you a fool. Not that they wouldn''t exist without it, but to dismiss the impact of garbage on TV on people is nieve.
And all it ties in with people feeling disciminated against. They feel there not getting what other people are getting and what their owed.
Reply to this comment
by mcvet March 5, 2008 10:13 PM EST
watcher - are you so insecure that you have to automatically go to name calling. Grow up and get a life. Maybe you need to read the report by the leading psychologist that shows that liberalism is a mental illness. You sure act like it.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Ozark_Sun at 04:48 PM : Mar 05, 2008
+ report abuse

Now IF "Liberalism" is a Mental Illness, you are saying ALL our greatest leaders were Mentally Ill. Jefferson was called a Radical Liberal by the King. Wilson who lead us through WW I was a LIBERAL as was FDR and his cousin Teddy, they both lead us through wars and FDR''s Economic Plan made us the greatest economic superpower on the planet. Then there was John Kennedy, who can forget his nerve and courage during the Cuban Missle Crisis and how about Old Harry Truman? Maybe they didn''t have a Mental Illness at all. Maybe YOU are a NAZI just slinging mud because people won''t agree with your "Party"? Sieg Heil JERK!! Come on you flaming Nazi sing it out! SIEG HEIL MEIN FUHRER! God where does this Nazi slime come from???
Reply to this comment
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