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WASHINGTON -- Ronald S. Cooper, General Counsel of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), will return to private law practice after two-and-one-half years leading the agency’s litigation program.

Cooper will rejoin the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson LLP in its Washington, DC office. He came to the EEOC in August 2006, after being appointed by former President Bush and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a four-year term. As General Counsel

Law Reinstates EEOC Position on Timeliness of Filing Wage Bias Charges

WASHINGTON - Hailing a victory for working women and all victims of pay discrimination, Stuart J. Ishimaru, the newly designated Acting Chairman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), today congratulates Congress and President Obama on the final passage and enactment of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.  The Act reinstates the EEOC's longstanding position on the timeliness of filing

Low Participation at Higher Levels; Lack of Retention

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has released a comprehensive report to Chair Naomi C. Earp from the Federal Hispanic Work Group. The report contains an extensive number of practical recommendations that address a broad array of contemporary federal sector employment issues, including hiring, leadership development and retention. The full report, entitled Report on the Hispanic Employment Challenge in the Federal

Orrington Firm Subjected Employees to Sexual Advances and Scientology Indoctrination and Fired Those Who Complained, Federal Agency Charged

CHICAGO – A Chicago dental practice will pay $462,500 to settle a class sexual and religious harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

In its lawsuit, the EEOC alleged that James L. Orrington, D.M.D., Ltd. discriminated against 18 employees by

Barriers and Misperceptions Persist; Low Participation in Senior Ranks

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today released a comprehensive report prepared by the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Work Group containing findings and a series of practical recommendations for EEOC Chair Naomi C. Earp's consideration.  These recommendations address AAPI issues related to federal sector employment, special emphasis programs and the complaints process. The full report, entitled Report to the

Appellate Court Declines to Review Jury Verdict in EEOC Religious Bias Case On Behalf of Jehovah's Witnesses

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced that a federal appeals court has declined to review a jury verdict in an EEOC religious discrimination case against telecommunications giant AT&T.  The decision by the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upholds the jury finding that AT&T unlawfully discriminated against

EEOC Says Three Women Subjected to Vulgar Sexual Comments, Unwanted Touching, Propositioning

SEATTLE – Fred Meyer Stores, Inc. (Fred Meyer) will  pay $485,000 to three female victims of sexual harassment and retaliation to  settle a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission  (EEOC), the EEOC announced today.

According to the EEOC’s suit (EEOC, et. al. v. Fred Meyer Stores, Inc. No. CV08-0208 HA, United States District Court of Oregon), the company’s

OPM and EEOC Partner to Co-sponsor Session

Washington, D.C.  – The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission  (EEOC)today co-hosted a meeting of the Chief Human Capital  Officers (CHCO) Council  Training Academy  focusing on how agencies can provide assistance to Americans with disabilities  who want to join the Federal Government.  Presentations were made from four agencies, including OPM, EEOC, the  Department of Treasury and the Department of Veterans

Company Refused to Hire Men into Weight Loss Counselor and Other Jobs, Agency Alleged

BALTIMORE – The U.S. Equal  Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today that it has resolved  its pattern or practice sex discrimination lawsuit against LA Weight Loss  Centers, Inc., (renamed Pure Weight Loss, Inc., in early 2007), for $20 million  and other significant relief.

According to the EEOC’s suit (WDQ-02-CV-648), filed in  the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Panelists to Discuss Job Bias Against Individuals with Arrest and Conviction Records

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold its next public meeting on Thursday, Nov. 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 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.

Following the

Prayer Breaks Sought by Muslim Employees to be Instituted; Total of $365,000 to be Paid in Two Cases

MINNEAPOLIS – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced that a federal district court in St. Paul, Minn., recently approved consent decrees that settle two religious discrimination lawsuits against a leading St. Cloud, Minn.-based chicken processor, Gold'n Plump Poultry, Inc., and an employment agency, The Work Connection, which referred workers to it.

EEOC Settles Suit on Behalf of Class of Enrollment Counselors in Online Division

PHOENIX – The U.S. Equal Employment  Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced that Federal District Court Judge  Mary H. Murguia has entered a consent decree for nearly $2 million and  significant remedial relief to resolve a class religious discrimination lawsuit  against the University  of Phoenix, Inc., and its  parent corporation, Apollo Group, Inc.

Apollo Group and the University  of Phoenix are one

Federal Agency Charged Cell Phone Refurbishing Company With Paying Hispanic Workers Less Than Others and Firing Employees Who Complained

NEW YORK – A New York-based  company that refurbishes cell phones at its factory in Long  Island will pay $435,000 to settle a wage discrimination and  retaliation suit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC),  the agency announced today.

The EEOC  had charged that First Wireless Group, Inc. engaged in a pattern or

Hispanic Work Group to Issue Report, Discuss Recommendations

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold its next public meeting on Thursday, Oct. 23, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 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.

Following the announcement of notation

WASHINGTON – Peggy R. Mastroianni, Associate Legal Counsel of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), has received the "Mary C. Lawton Outstanding Government Service Award for 2008" from the American Bar Association (ABA), the EEOC announced today.

Mastroianni was selected for the award by the ABA's Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice.  The distinguished award recognizes government lawyers at the federal and state levels for outstanding contributions to the development, implementation, or improvement

EEOC Says Jewelry Retail Giant Discriminated Against Thousands of Women Nationwide

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Sterling Jewelers Inc., the largest specialty retail jeweler in the country, violated federal law by discriminating against a large class of female employees at stores nationwide, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charges in a systemic lawsuit filed yesterday under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

In its suit, the EEOC asserts that Sterling Jewelers pays its female retail

Teens Among Many Victims of Abuse at Markets, Federal Agency Charged

RENO, Nev. – Scolari's Warehouse Markets will pay $425,000 and furnish other relief to settle a class sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

The EEOC charged in its lawsuit that 19 female employees, several of whom were teenagers at the time, were subjected to repeated and sometimes severe sexual

EEOC Affirms Commitment to Combat Systemic Discrimination in the Workplace

WASHINGTON – Naomi C. Earp, Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), today announced the selection of Dana Hutter as the new Systemic Investigation Program Manager.  Hutter, a veteran agency official, will assume the new position on September 15 after serving nearly five years as the Washington Field Office Director.

In his new role, Hutter will be responsible for promoting development

WASHINGTON — 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.

Announcing the resource publication for federal agencies, Commission Chair Naomi C. Earp said, "The EEOC is doing everything it can to provide agencies with useful guidance on how to be the nation's

New Compliance Manual Section Addresses Wide Range of Contemporary Workplace Issues

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity  Commission (EEOC) today issued a new Compliance Manual Section regarding workplace discrimination on the basis of religion.

The Section includes a comprehensive review of the relevant provisions of Title VII  of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the EEOC’s policies regarding religious  discrimination, harassment and accommodation.  The

EEOC to Focus on Federal Employment of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

WASHINGTON -- 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.

Following the announcement of notation votes, the  Commission will hear

WASHINGTON  – 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.

"We are delighted to welcome Commissioner Barker

EEOC Said Long-Time Pharmacy Technician Fired Because of Gunshot Disability

BALTIMORE – 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.

In its suit (1:06-cv-2514), filed in U.S. District

Corrections Department Provided Lesser Benefits to Female Corrections Officers Who Gave Birth While on Workers' Compensation Leave

NEW YORK – 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