Newsroom

Commission Chair Naomi Earp and Gov. Ruth Ann Minner Sign Universal Mediation Agreement

DOVER, Del. – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the State of Delaware today announced the signing of a Universal Agreement to Mediate (UAM) to informally resolve workplace disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).  The new partnership marks the second time the EEOC has entered into a universal mediation agreement with a state government.

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.

Federal Agency Says Prep School Fired Employee for Protesting Unequal Pay for Women

CLEVELAND – The U.S. Equal  Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced that a jury here has  returned a unanimous verdict against Lake  Ridge Academy  finding that an employee who voiced concern about unequal pay for women was unlawfully  fired in retaliation.

The jury  reached its unanimous verdict in the EEOC lawsuit after hearing testimony which  proved that James Whiteman was fired

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

Washington Field Office Open to Public at New Location on Nov. 19

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity  Commission (EEOC) Headquarters and Washington Field Office (WFO) are relocating to 131 M Street, NE, beginning Nov. 19. All phone numbers, fax numbers, and  e-mail addresses will remain the same.

The lease for the EEOC Headquarters at 1801 L Street, NW, expired in July  2008. In May 2007, the General Services  Administration announced the signing

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

First Universal Mediation Agreement Between EEOC and State Government Bolsters National Trend

SANTA FE, N.M. – The U.S.  Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the State of New Mexico today  announced the signing of a Regional Universal Agreement to Mediate to  informally resolve workplace disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution  (ADR). The new partnership marks the  first time the EEOC has entered into a universal mediation agreement with a  state government.

“We commend  the State

WASHINGTON – Naomi C. Earp, Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), today announced the federal agency will hold a symposium with the National Partnership for Women and Families to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 9 a.m. The event will be held at the headquarters of the National Education Association (NEA) at 1201 16th St., NW.

EEOC Settles Suit for Young Men Who Were Sexually Abused

SEATTLE - Hotel giant WorldMark by Wyndham will pay $370,000 and furnish significant remedial relief to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.  The EEOC had charged that the company failed to stop the manager of its Birch Bay Resort in Blaine, Wash., from sexually harassing young male employees.

According to the

EEOC Says County Attempted to Force Out Senior Marine Bureau Police Officers

NEW YORK - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced that Nassau County on Long Island will pay $450,000 and agree to significant injunctive relief to settle an age discrimination lawsuit on behalf of several police officers in the Marine Bureau. 

In its lawsuit, the EEOC asserted that Nassau County discriminated against

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

Justices Decline to Review Jury Award in EEOC Case on Behalf of Deaf Worker

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity  Commission (EEOC) today announced that the Supreme Court has denied a petition  for review by Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) of a ruling by the U.S. Court  of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upholding a $100,000 punitive damages award  in an EEOC lawsuit under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) on behalf of  a

EEOC Says Retail Giant Requires Employees to Reveal Confidential Medical Information

SAN DIEGO – Dillard Store Services, Inc.  (Dillard’s), the nationwide chain of department stores, unlawfully discrimin­ates  against employees by requiring them to disclose personal and confidential  medical information or face disciplinary action including termination, the U.S.  Equal Employ­ment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charges in a class lawsuit  filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The EEOC states in the litigation  that the Dillard’s

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

New Publication Focuses on Frequently Asked Questions from Employers and Employees

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal  Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today issued a comprehensive  question-and-answer guide addressing how the Americans with Disabilities Act  (ADA) applies to a wide variety of performance and conduct issues.  The document is available on the agency’s web  site at www.eeoc.gov/facts/performance-conduct.html.

“The EEOC continues to receive  numerous questions on these topics from employers and from individuals with  disabilities,” said

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

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

Federal Complaints and Processing Times Down; Government Diversity Improves

WASHINGTON – 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

Ninth Circuit Returns  EEOC Lawsuit to Lower Court  for Trial in Arizona

PHOENIX – 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.

EEOC Charged that TSS Failed to Promote African Americans to Managerial Positions

LITTLE  ROCK, Ark. –  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.

The EEOC’s lawsuit (Case No. 3:05  CV 00218) in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas,