HR Tip: Retaliation continues to top the list of EEOC charges

According to an EEOC report, there were 67,448 charges filed in fiscal year 2020, a reduction from the previous year and the lowest number of charges filed since at least 1992, a decline partially due to the pandemic. More than half (55.8 percent) of all charges related to retaliation, a slight increase from the year before. There was a slight increase in disability claims but the rest of the top five types of claims (race, sex, and age) saw very small decreases:

Retaliation: 37,632 (55.8 percent of all charges filed)
Disability: 24,324 (36.1 percent)
Race: 22,064 (32.7 percent)
Sex: 21,398 (31.7 percent)
Age: 14,183 (21.0 percent)
National Origin: 6,377 (9.5 percent)
Color: 3,562 (5.3 percent)
Religion: 2,404 (3.6 percent)
Equal Pay Act: 980 (1.5 percent)
Genetic Information: 440 (0.7 percent)

^{These percentages add up to more than 100% because some charges allege multiple bases}

This data is a good reminder to employers to review their policies and practices to ensure they are protecting themselves as much as possible against potential discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims.