Job-bias complaints hit record high
Job discrimination complaints hit record levels in fiscal 2008 nationwide, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reported.
There were 95,400 workplace discrimination claims filed for the year ended Sept. 30, the most recent data available. That’s up from 82,800 the previous year.
Complaints based on race, gender, age and religion all saw year-over-year gains.
Workers can file discrimination complaints with the commission, which can seek to remedy the situation including via lawsuits. Some of the complaints lead to financial settlements and mediation, while others are determined to have no merit.
Employment attorneys expected the increase as businesses cut back on hiring and increase layoffs because of the weak economy bad credit payday loans.
"It is no surprise that the number of charges have increased," said John Lomax, a labor and employment shareholder with the law firm Greenberg Traurig.
"During our annual labor seminar in October 2008, we projected that we would see an increase in the number of discrimination charges due to the fact that companies, for numerous reasons, would be forced to cut back in light of the current economic conditions; however, what is a bit surprising is the rate at which that number is increasing," Lomax said.