EEOC ISSUES FEDERAL WORK FORCE REPORT FOR 2008, URGES AGENCIES TO IMPROVE COMPLAINT PROCESSING

Discrimination Complaint Filings and Agency Processing Times Rise Slightly

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today released the Annual Report on the Federal Work Force for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008, which shows small increases in discrimination complaint filings against federal agencies and in average complaint processing time government-wide.

The annual report informs and advises the President and the Congress on the state of equal employment opportunity (EEO) throughout the federal government. Data in the report, available online at www.eeoc.gov, are presented both in individual agency profiles and in government-wide aggregate form.

According to the comprehensive report, 16,752 complaints alleging employment discrimination were filed against the federal government in FY 2008 – up 2.4 percent from the prior year. EEO complaints were filed against agencies on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability and reprisal.  Pre-complaint counseling and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) programs addressed many employee concerns before they resulted in formal EEO complaints. Of the 38,898 instances of counseling in FY 2008, more than half did not result in a formal complaint being filed.

Agencies completed a total of 11,157 EEO complaint investigations in FY 2008 with an average processing time of 180 days, an increase of four days from FY 2007. Of the 7,538 cases closed on the merits, 2.5% resulted in findings of unlawful discrimination. In addition, the parties entered into settlements in 3,249 complaints, or 19.5% of the total complaint closures.  Agencies paid out a total of over $50 million in monetary benefits to complainants (including appellate decisions).

"Federal agencies must step up their efforts to improve complaint processing time, while also focusing on quality results," said EEOC Acting Chairman Stuart J. Ishimaru. "The Commission continues to assist agencies in creating model EEO programs and implementing best practices to promote an inclusive, discrimination-free federal workplace."

The federal government is the nation's largest employer with nearly 2.7 million employees across the country and around the world in FY 2008. Over the past decade, there have been subtle changes in the composition of the federal work force, one of the most diverse in the nation. Overall, the participation rates of women, Hispanic or Latinos, and Asians have slightly increased, however, the number of people with targeted disabilities continues to decline and remains below 1% of the total work force. 

The EEOC, through its LEAD Initiative (Leadership for the Employment of Americans with Disabilities), offers agencies enhanced technical assistance and guidance to increase the number of people with disabilities employed by the federal government.  Further information about LEAD is available online at http://www.eeoc.gov/initiatives/lead/index.html.

The EEOC monitors federal agency compliance with equal employment opportunity laws and procedures.  Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.