The EEOC recently made the breakdown of its individual charge filings available online for each state. The statistics run from fiscal year 2009 through fiscal year 2011. The top Texas discrimination charges are: (1) retaliation (41%); (2) race (36.3%); (3) retaliation – Title VII (35.9%); and (4) sex discrimination (29.4%).
Total charges in Texas continue to rise as across the nation. Employers need to anticipate and be ready for the EEOC charge, whether there is merit to it or not. All it takes is a former employee to fill out the necessary paperwork and file it with the EEOC. No lawyer is required and there is no charge for the filing. From the employee’s standpoint, what does it hurt? Maybe they can get the employer to pony up some money to resolve the dispute, even if it is baseless.
