EEOC and OCRC complaints of discrimination and harassment increased significantly in 2018

As we discussed last fall, 2018 was a busy year for discrimination and harassment claims handled by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). In late 2018, the EEOC released data showing that it filed 50 percent more sexual harassment lawsuits than it did the previous year. 

A recently-released report from the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) also showed nearly a 5 percent increase in discrimination complaints filed with the OCRC. Specifically, the report showed that, from July 2017 to June 2018, 6,098 discrimination complaints were filed compared with 5,840 complaints filed the previous year. The largest share of discrimination claims was based on race and involved issues of unlawful discharge. The report also showed an increase in sex discrimination claims. 

This information serves as an additional incentive to employers to ensure that workplace discrimination policies and procedures are up-to-date and that managers and staff have received effective training to prevent and address all forms of discrimination and harassment in the workplace.