EEOC seeks comment on anti-discrimination plans

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has released a draft of its proposed four-year strategic plan that includes performance measures to gauge its progress in meeting its goals.

The EEOC, along with other federal agencies, are required to develop and post a strategic plan on their public website every four years, according to the draft.

The EEOC's goals for its four-year plan are: combating employment discrimination through strategic law enforcement; preventing employment discrimination through education and outreach; and delivering excellent service through effective systems, updated technology, and a skilled and diverse workforce, the agency said.

As part of its strategic objective to combat employment discrimination through strategic law enforcement, the EEOC’s proposed strategies include:

• Developing and implementing a strategic enforcement plan that establishes EEOC priorities and integrates the EEOC’s investigation, conciliation and litigation responsibilities in the private, state and local government sectors;

• “Rigorously and consistently” implementing charge and case management systems;

• Using administrative and litigation mechanisms to identify and attack discriminatory policies;

• Using EEOC decisions to target discriminatory practices and policies in federal agencies;

• Ensuring remedies end discriminatory practices and deter discrimination;

• And seeking remedies that provide “meaningful relief” to discrimination victims.

Comments on the draft plan, which the EEOC is still reviewing, must be submitted by Feb. 1 at strategicplan@eeoc.gov.

In November, the EEOC said fiscal 2011 saw a record number of

discrimination charges discrimination charges and record value of monetary awards.