Employment lawyers in New Jersey and the rest of the nation are going to see some changes in the enforcement of employment laws. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is going to receive an extra $23 million to help tackle a growing problem: backlogged cases at the EEOC. The 2010 omnibus appropriations bill, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 10 and by the Senate on Dec. 13, would place those additional millions to the EEOC. The money shall be used to help the agency get a handle on more than 70,000 unresolved discrimination complaints.
Recently, the EEOC saw a 35% jump in its backlog, from 54,970 cases in 2007 to 73,951 last year. The agency also saw a record number of discrimination complaints in 2008 -- 95,402. This was also a nearly 20% increase from 79,896 in 2007. Approximately two-thirds of the cases involved racial or gender discrimination. In the meantime, the agency has watched staffing levels shrink 25% in recent years, from 2,850 in 2001 to 2,150 in 2008. The agency is now hiring 200 new investigators.
Many states have their own version of the EEOC. In New Jersey, discrimination complaints can be filed with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights.
EEOC To Receive 23 Million To Assist Nation's Employment Lawyers With Discrimination Cases.
December 17, 2009
