Press releases and other news from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. http://www.eeoc.gov/ en-us http://backend.userland.com/rss The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today issued a new question-and-answer guide aimed at promoting the hiring and advancement of individuals with disabilities in federal government employment. The new publication is available on the EEOC’s web site at www.eeoc.gov/federal/qanda-employment-with-disabilities.html. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/8-26-09.html 2008-08-26 Naomi C. Earp, Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), today released the Annual Report on the Federal Work Force for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007, covering October 2006 through September 2007. The comprehensive report, which informs and advises the President and the Congress on the state of equal employment opportunity (EEO) government-wide, is available on the agency's web site at www.eeoc.gov/federal/fsp2007/index.html. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/8-18-09.html 2008-08-19 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced that the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed a decision by a lower court which had concluded that The Boeing Company did not engage in unlawful sexual harassment or retaliation at its plant in Mesa, Ariz. The court of appeals returned the case to Arizona for trial. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/8-7-08.html 2008-08-07 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced that Tobacco Superstores, Inc. (TSS) will pay $425,000 and provide significant remedial relief to settle a race discrimination lawsuit on behalf of qualified black workers who were denied promotion to management. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/8-5-08.html 2008-08-05 Home electronics retailer Video Only will pay $630,000 and implement preventative measures to settle two discrimination lawsuits, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today. Judge Garr M. King of the U.S. District Court in Portland signed the Consent Decree approving the settlement. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/8-4-08.html 2008-08-04 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold its next open meeting on Monday, July 28, at 1 p.m. (Eastern Time), at agency headquarters, 1801 L Street, N.W. In accordance with the Sunshine Act, the meeting is open for public observation of the Commission's deliberations. During the meeting, the following matters are scheduled for consideration: http://www.eeoc.gov/press/7-25-08.html 2008-07-25 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today issued a new Compliance Manual Section regarding workplace discrimination on the basis of religion. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/7-22-08.html 2008-07-22 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold its annual federal sector EXCEL (Examining Conflicts in Employment Law) conference from Aug. 18 to 21 at the Chicago Hilton Hotel. EXCEL is the premier national federal sector law conference and the most comprehensive of its kind examining contemporary equal employment opportunity issues and other workplace topics. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/7-18-08.html 2008-07-18 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold its next public meeting on Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time), at agency headquarters, 1801 L Street, N.W. In accordance with the Sunshine Act, the meeting is open for public observation of the Commission's deliberations. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/7-17-08.html 2008-07-17 Constance S. Barker has been sworn in as a Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. Ms. Barker was nominated by President George W. Bush on March 31, 2008, and unanimously confirmed by the Senate on June 27 to serve the remainder of a five-year term expiring on July 1, 2011. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/7-16-08.html 2008-07-16 A major Silicon Valley manufacturer of semiconductor production equipment will pay $168,000 to settle a racial harassment and retaliation lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. The EEOC had charged Novellus Systems, Inc. with subjecting an African American worker to racial harassment. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/6-24-08.html 2008-06-24 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold its next open meeting on Wednesday, June 18, at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time), at agency headquarters, 1801 L Street, N.W. In accordance with the Sunshine Act, the meeting is open for public observation of the Commission's deliberations. During the meeting, the following matters are scheduled for consideration: http://www.eeoc.gov/press/6-16-08.html 2008-06-16 Retail giant Wal-Mart will pay $250,000 and furnish significant injunctive relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. The EEOC had charged that Wal-Mart failed to accommodate and then fired a long-time pharmacy technician who suffered a disability resulting from a gunshot wound. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/6-9-08.html 2008-06-09 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced the settlement of a harassment and retaliation lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act against Tavern on the Green, a landmark restaurant located in Central Park in New York City, for $2.2 million and significant remedial relief. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/6-2-08.html 2008-06-02 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold its next open meeting on Monday, June 2, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), at agency headquarters, 1801 L Street, N.W. In accordance with the Sunshine Act, the meeting is open for public observation of the Commission's deliberations. During the meeting, the following matters are scheduled for consideration: http://www.eeoc.gov/press/5-30-08.html 2008-05-30 The New York State Department of Correctional Services will pay nearly $1 million to settle a sex discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the two offices announced today. The EEOC and the United States had charged the Corrections Department with violating federal law by providing inferior benefits to female employees on maternity leave. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/5-21-08a.html 2008-05-21 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced the formation of a partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to launch a Hispanic Work Group examining the community's concerns about federal sector employment, including leadership development, hiring, and retention. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/5-21-08.html 2008-05-21 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced the settlement of a federal lawsuit against NCL America, Inc. for $485,000 to seven former employees and remedial relief. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/5-15-08.html 2008-05-15 A Rochester-based distributor of highway and industrial safety products will pay $375,000 and furnish injunctive relief to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/5-14-08.html 2008-05-14 Razzoo's, a Dallas/Fort Worth-based Cajun food restaurant chain, will pay $1 million and furnish significant remedial relief to settle a sex discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. The EEOC had charged Razzoo's with discriminating against a class of male applicants and employees. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/5-7-08.html 2008-05-07 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced the resolution of its class action employment discrimination lawsuit against Specialty Restaurants Corporation, an Anaheim, Calif.-based owner and operator of restaurants and banquet facilities nationwide, including Monterey Hill Banquets in Monterey Park, Calif. Under the EEOC settlement, the company has agreed to pay $625,000 to claimants and will adopt remedial measures to ensure that its employees are not sexually harassed. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/5-7-08a.html 2008-05-07 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced a major settlement of a racial harassment lawsuit for $1,650,000 and significant remedial relief against Conectiv, A.C. Dellovade, Inc., Steel Suppliers Erectors, Inc. and Matrix Services Industrial Contractors (doing business as Bogan, Inc. /Hake Group) on behalf of African American employees who were subjected to egregious racial harassment at a construction site in Bethlehem, Pa. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/5-5-08.html 2008-05-05 The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has affirmed the judgment on a jury verdict in favor of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and farm worker Olivia Tamayo in a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit against Coalinga, Calif.-based Harris Farms, one of the largest integrated farming operations in the Central San Joaquin Valley. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/4-25-08.html 2008-04-25 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. will pay $300,000 to a Hardin, Mo., man to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/4-17-08.html 2008-04-17 A Fort Wayne staffing company will settle an age, race and retaliation discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. The company will pay a total of $580,000 and will also pay up to $5,000 in settlement administrative expenses. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/4-16-08.html 2008-04-16 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced the settlement of a race discrimination lawsuit against BCI Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Los Angeles (BCI) for $250,000 on behalf of an African American former worker in Albuquerque, N.M. The resolution follows a favorable ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, which established an important legal doctrine known as "subordinate bias" theory. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/4-15-08.html 2008-04-15 Naomi C. Earp, Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and EEOC Commissioner Stuart J. Ishimaru, today met with Memphis area business leaders to discuss the agency's E-RACE Initiative (Eradicating Racism And Colorism from Employment) - a national outreach, education, and enforcement campaign focusing on new and emerging race and color issues in the 21st century workplace. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/4-11-08.html 2008-04-11 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced the settlement of its age discrimination lawsuit against Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications for $773,000 for a class of eight older employees. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/4-7-08a.html 2008-04-07 A Durango, Colo.-based McDonald's restaurant franchise will pay $505,000 and provide significant remedial relief to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on behalf of a class of young female employees, including teens, the agency announced today. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/4-7-08.html 2008-04-07 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced it has settled its class sexual harassment lawsuit against the Dillard's department store chain for $500,000 and substantial remedial relief on behalf of a class of 12 female former employees who were sexually harassed by an assistant store manager in two states. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/4-1-08.html 2008-04-01 Centenary College of Louisiana has agreed to pay $200,000 to settle a sex discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. The EEOC had charged that the Shreveport college had demanded the resignation of its women's intercollegiate basketball head coach and then fired her because she had had a child. The EEOC's suit was resolved by a Consent Decree, which was signed by Judge Donald E. Walter on March 26, 2008 and entered into the record of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana on March 28, 2008. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/3-28-08.html 2008-03-28 A federal judge here has granted final approval of a sweeping consent decree resolving a class race discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Walgreen Co., the Deerfield, Ill.-based national drug store chain. The decree, one of the largest monetary settlements in a race case by the EEOC, provides for the payment of over $24 million to a class of thousands of African American workers and orders comprehensive injunctive relief designed to improve the company’s promotion and store assignment practices. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/3-25-08.html 2008-03-25 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced a litigation settlement with Washington Group International, Inc. (WGI) for $1.5 million dollars, as well as significant injunctive relief, on behalf of African American workers who were racially harassed and then retaliated against for complaining about it. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/3-19-08.html 2008-03-19 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold its next open meeting on Monday, March 17, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time), at agency headquarters, 1801 L Street, N.W. In accordance with the Sunshine Act, the meeting is open for public observation of the Commission's deliberations. During the meeting, the following matters are scheduled for consideration: http://www.eeoc.gov/press/3-13-08.html 2008-03-13 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced the settlement of a race and national origin harassment lawsuit for $1.9 million and significant remedial relief against Allied Aviation Services, Inc. on behalf of African American and Hispanic workers who were the targets of racial slurs, graffiti, cartoons, and hangman's nooses at a facility in the Dallas/Ft. Worth airport. The company identifies itself at the "largest American domestically owned provider of fueling services to the commercial aviation industry." http://www.eeoc.gov/press/3-11-08.html 2008-03-11 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received a total of 82,792 private sector discrimination charge filings last fiscal year, the highest volume of incoming charges since 2002 and the largest annual increase (9%) since the early 1990s, the agency reported today as part of its Fiscal Year 2007 enforcement and litigation statistics. The data, available online at www.eeoc.gov, also show that the EEOC recovered $345 million in monetary relief for job bias victims. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/3-5-08.html 2008-03-05 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today issued two question-and-answer guides providing technical assistance for employers and veterans on workplace issues affecting veterans with service-connected disabilities. Both documents are available on the agency's web site at www.eeoc.gov. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/2-29-08.html 2008-02-29 Valley Forge, Pa.-based The Vanguard Group, Inc., one of the world's largest investment management companies, will pay $500,000 and provide other relief to settle a retaliation lawsuit by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today. The EEOC had charged that following an African American employee's complaints of race discrimination, Vanguard subjected him to a series of adverse employment actions culminating in his termination. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/2-29-08a.html 2008-02-29 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold its next open meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 10:30 a.m. (Eastern Time), at agency headquarters, 1801 L Street, N.W. In accordance with the Sunshine Act, the meeting is open for public observation of the Commission’s deliberations. During the meeting, the following matters are scheduled for consideration http://www.eeoc.gov/press/2-14-08.html 2008-02-14 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold its next open meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), at agency headquarters, 1801 L Street, N.W. In accordance with the Sunshine Act, the meeting is open for public observation of the Commission's deliberations. During the meeting, the following matters are scheduled for consideration: http://www.eeoc.gov/press/2-11-08.html 2008-02-11 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today that a federal district court jury returned a verdict yesterday for the EEOC in the amount of $110,000 against a Houston dry cleaner for sexual harassment. The EEOC had charged that the owner of Bellair Cleaners, Inc., doing business as Park Avenue Cleaners, Bellair Cleaners, and Your Valet (Park Avenue Cleaners), harassed a female employee, then aged 19, and other women. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/2-8-08.html 2008-02-08 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced the settlement of a racial harassment lawsuit for $465,000 and significant remedial relief against Henredon Furniture Industries, Inc. on behalf of African American employees who were subjected to a persistent racially hostile work environment at a furniture plant. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/1-24-08.html 2008-01-24 A federal court has granted final approval for a $6.2 million partial settlement for black and Hispanic sheet metal workers who suffered discrimination by their union, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/1-15-08a.html 2008-01-15 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today issued a comprehensive report addressing strategies to reverse the declining participation rate of federal employees with targeted disabilities. The full text of the report, Improving the Participation Rate of People with Targeted Disabilities in the Federal Work Force, is available on the EEOC's web site at www.eeoc.gov/federal/report/pwtd.html. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/1-15-08.html 2008-01-15 Jazz great Wynton Marsalis laments that some employers "play a cacophonous tune called discrimination" in one of two video public service announcements that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) unveiled today. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/1-14-08.html 2008-01-07 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced that it has resolved its national origin discrimination lawsuit brought against Supreme Corporation and Supreme Northwest LLC for $427,000 and other relief. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/1-7-08.html 2008-01-07 The U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced a major settlement of a race discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against Lockheed Martin, the world's largest military contractor, for $2,500,000 and other relief on behalf of an African American electrician who was subjected to a racially hostile work environment at several job sites nationwide – including threats of lynching and the "N-word." http://www.eeoc.gov/press/1-2-08.html 2008-1-2 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced the publication of a final rule allowing employers that provide retiree health benefits to continue the longstanding practice of coordinating those benefits with Medicare (or comparable state health benefits) without violating the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). The regulation, which safeguards retiree health benefits, was published in today's Federal Register and is available on the EEOC's web site at www.eeoc.gov/policy/regs/index.html. http://www.eeoc.gov/press/12-26-07.html 2007-12-26