A Message from Victoria A. Lipnic

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Victoria A. Lipnic

Older Americans Month, 2019

Today's strong economy is good news for workers as there are millions of job openings and many workers are in high demand. While that should be good news for older workers, we see little sign that employers are seeking out older workers to fill that demand. Many employers have diversity and inclusion strategies and tactics - but most don't include age. That's a lost opportunity. Research shows that employers would be doing themselves a lot of good by valuing the talent of experienced workers as part of a diverse, multi-generational workforce, such as improving organizational performance and individual productivity, and reducing employee turnover.

Equal Pay Day, April 2, 2019

(April, 2019)

Today we recognize Equal Pay Day - how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned the previous year.  On this April 2^nd, it feels like December 31, 2018 was a very long time ago.  For women of color, the wage gap extends even further into the year.  And so, we are reminded of the clear and obvious moral point that no one should ever be underpaid or treated adversely because of gender, period.

Women's History Month, 2019

This is the time of year to celebrate a very special sister act.

Bunny Resnick, born in New York City and educated in psychology and counsel­ing, experienced and then documented the many ways women were held back in the groves of academe. 

Black History Month, 2019

(February, 2019)

Three times in the nine years I have served at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), I've had the honor of being on panels with and getting to listen to the story of Willie King.  Ms. King was a long-time employee of the EEOC who retired a few years back.  As a young woman, she was a secretary to Dr. Martin Luther King, and she helped to type up his "Letter From Birmingham Jail."  It was always fascinating to hear the story of how she had to read his handwriting from the scraps of paper he wrote on that were smuggled out of the jail.  That letter would become a seminal document of democracy and justice. 

National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2018

(October, 2018)

"America's Workforce: Empowering All" is the official theme for this year's National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).

Hispanic Heritage Month 2018

As we commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize that Hispanics have been an integral part of the American tapestry from the start - as well as here at the EEOC.

LGBT Month 2018

African-American, Quaker, gay, singer, sportsman, pacifist, consci­entious objector (and, consequently, prisoner), union organizer, civil rights icon, liberal, neo­conservative … Bayard Rustin was all these things - some only for a period, and some all his life. Most importantly, his principal lifelong identity was as a fearless and relent­less warrior for human rights for all.

Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month 2018

(May, 2018)

"East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet." When Rudyard Kipling said that, he was already wrong as far as the United States was concerned. The immigration of the first Japanese to the United States occurred on May 7, 1843, and the Transcontinental Railroad, which was built in large part by immigrants from China, was completed on May 10, 1869. Since then, people from all over Asia and the Pacific have not only come to the United States in ever-greater numbers, they have become an integral part of American society, contributing to our nation in countless ways.

Older Americans Month 2018

(May, 2018)

In 2018, we frequently hear encouraging slogans such as "70 is the new 50" (fill in your own favorite numbers as you wish!).  But all too often we see the discouraging reality that being over 40 can be the "new ancient."  It seems in some employment sectors, the assumption is that you can't be "cutting edge" if you're not young - only a dull blade.  And equally disturbing, too many older Americans face discrimination based on these outdated notions with the assumptions understood rather than spoken.

Equal Pay Day 2018

(April, 2018)

Today, April 10th, we recognize Equal Pay Day -- the point of time in the calendar year when, after adding up the wages of all working women, their median wage equals that of the median wage of working men from the prior year.  In other words, only after working the first four months of the new year do working women start to catch up.  And that is only If we separate out women of color -- their Equal Pay Day is months even further into the year.

Women's History Month 2018

(March, 2018)

Sometime in the 1830s, a slaveowner on Maryland's Eastern Shore threw a heavy metal weight at a slave.  He missed his target and hit another slave - a young girl named Araminta "Minty" Ross.

That injury caused Minty a lifetime of seizures, headaches and visions.  However, it didn't stop her.  Minty Ross, later known as Harriet Tubman, would show the world what pure courage looks like.  When she was 27, braving the horrors that threatened a fugitive slave, she escaped under the cover of night to Philadelphia and freedom.

Black History Month, 2018

(February, 2018)

Myrlie Evers-Williams stated, "I have reached a point in my life where I understand the pain and the challenges; and my attitude is one of standing up with open arms to meet them all."

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2018

(January, 2018)

This year will mark the 32^nd year of the federal holiday recognizing the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Hispanic Heritage Month 2017

(September / October, 2017)

From September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. This observance encompasses many memorable dates of Latin American Heritage.  Indeed, September 15 was chosen as the start of Hispanic Heritage Month because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua - all in 1821. Mexico, Chile, and Belize celebrate their independence days later in September.

LGBT Month 2017

(June, 2017)

Social movements are made up of many kinds of people working together for a common goal.  But sometimes movements are encapsulated by a few very special people who crystallize and symbolize the set of ideals they espouse.

Older Americans Month 2017

(May, 2017)

Older Americans Month honors older Americans and celebrates their contributions to our country. The EEOC recognizes the value that older workers bring to the workplace and to our economy as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) this year.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2017

(May, 2017)

During Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we recognize the many contributions of generations of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to building this great nation. From farmworkers to railroad laborers, to entrepreneurs and scientists, and to members of the armed forces and public servants, AAPIs have helped shaped the very fabric of America.

Equal Pay Day 2017

(April 4, 2017)

Today the nation celebrates Equal Pay Day, and the EEOC has many reasons and motivation to do so. Of course, combating (and, hopefully, someday eliminating) employment discrimination is our core mission, and there is a long history of workplace discrimination directed at women. There is no justification for paying anyone less simply because of their gender. I am absolutely committed to the EEOC's push for equal pay and will continue to make sure our agency remains a leader in this area.

Women's History Month 2017

(March, 2017)

This month, we have been recognizing National Women's History month. The theme for this year's celebration is "Honoring Trailblazing Women in Business and Labor."

African American History Month 2017

(February, 2017)

February marks recognition of African American History Month for our nation.  I am delighted that one of my very first acts as Acting Chair of the EEOC is to celebrate and recognize this month and the achievements of African Americans in this country.