EEOC reports record recoveries for discrimination victims

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Tuesday announced it had a record-breaking fiscal year 2023 by obtaining more than $665 million for employment discrimination victims.

The amount represents a nearly 30% increase compared with the 2022 fiscal year and coincides with the increased demand for the agency’s assistance from workers who suffered discrimination, the EEOC said.

Of the more than $665 million, approximately $440.5 million was secured through mediation for 15,143 victims of employment discrimination in the private sector as well as state and local government workplaces. Additionally, more than $202 million was obtained for 5,943 federal employees and applicants, an increase of more than 53% from 2022, the agency said.

The number of new lawsuits initiated by the agency also increased by more than 50% compared with 2022, with 143 new actions being brought, including 86 on behalf of individuals, 32 nonsystemic suits involving multiple victims and 25 systemic suits involving multiple victims or discriminatory policies.  

The 81,055 new charges of discrimination submitted to the agency increased more than 10% in 2023.

EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows said in the report that she authorized the hiring of 493 new positions, mostly investigators, support assistants and attorneys, “to help strengthen our ability to fulfill the agency’s vital role in preventing and remedying employment discrimination.”