
What is the average workplace discrimination settlement amount?
The average workplace discrimination settlement amount is $40,000. However, this can vary drastically depending on the size of the employer.
What percentage of employees experience discrimination at work?
Studies suggest 61% of employees over the age of 45 have either personally experienced or seen discrimination at work, and that can include the way they’re treated by existing employers, when looking for new work, and when terminated from existing employment.
How many workplace discrimination cases are filed with the government?
American workers alleged violations of federal anti-discrimination laws in more than 1 million cases filed with these agencies between fiscal years 2010 and 2017. One case can include allegations of various types of discrimination. Each point on the screen represents 50 of these cases. [ Center for Public Integrity: Workplace discrimination cases]
How many discrimination cases does the EEOC close each year?
The EEOC and Fair Employment Practices Agencies close over 100,000 worker discrimination cases every year. Even if the commission doubles this figure, it still won’t suffice if justice couldn’t be seen in most closed claims.

How many cases of discrimination were there in 2021?
The EEOC filed 114 workplace discrimination cases in 2021. That's a 23.5% decrease from 2019 when 149 cases were filed.
How many claims are filed with the EEOC annually?
The EEOC's data shows that there were only 67,448 charges of discrimination filed in FY 2020, which is 5227 fewer charges of discrimination than were in FY 2019. For the last four years, the EEOC has reported a decrease in the overall number of charges of discrimination filed.
How common is workplace discrimination in the US?
Wrong—by a long shot. According to a survey released today by employee engagement platform Ten Spot, negative workplace experiences are more common than ever. Fully 70% of respondents indicated that they have experienced some type of discrimination or abusive behavior at work.
What are the most frequently filed claims with the EEOC?
The most frequently filed claims with the EEOC are allegations of race discrimination, racial harassment, or retaliation arising from opposition to race discrimination. In fiscal year 2006, over 27,200 charges alleged race-based discrimination, accounting for 36% of all the charges filed.
How many lawsuits did EEOC file in 2020?
EEOC legal staff resolved 165 merits lawsuits and filed 93 lawsuits alleging discrimination in FY 2020. EEOC recovered just over $106 million for charging parties and other aggrieved individuals through litigation, representing the largest recovery through the EEOC's litigation program in the past 16 years.
What are the chances of winning an EEOC case?
A: The EEOC has a very high success rate when it comes to court decisions, reaching favorable outcomes in nearly 96% of all district court cases stemming from EEOC complaints.
How many cases of discrimination are there in the workplace?
The EEOC reported in Feb. 2021 that more than 67,000 claims of workplace discrimination were filed in 2020. Out of the claims that were filed during that year, more than half included claims of retaliation.
What does discrimination mean in statistics?
Statistical discrimination arises when groups differ statistically in their distributions on characteristics relevant in a given situation. For example, men may on average take fewer sick days than women do.
How many people are affected by discrimination in the workplace?
The Robert Walters report Embracing difference found that 9 in 10 women feel discrimination exists in today's workplace (compared to 73% of men).
How much is a discrimination case worth?
For those that have between 101 and 200 employees, the limit for damages is $100,000, while companies with between 201 and 500 employees have a limit of $200,000. Finally, companies with more than 500 employees have a limit of $300,000 in terms of possible compensation.
What is the most common discrimination?
Retaliation made up nearly 56% of all claimed filed with the agency, followed by race and color discrimination at 38%, disability at 36%, and sex at 32%. Other common discrimination claims included age discrimination (21%), national origin discrimination (10%), and religious discrimination (4%).
What percentage of age discrimination cases win?
Rates of Complaint Resolution 89% of all age discrimination cases are dismissed due to no reasonable cause for EEOC action being found (64%) or because the complaint was closed for administrative reasons (20%) or was withdrawn (5%). Just 7% of all age discrimination complaints actually reach a settlement.
How many EEOC cases are filed 2019?
72,675Charge Statistics (Charges filed with EEOC) FY 1997 Through FY 2021FY 1997FY 2019Total Charges80,68072,675Race29,19923,97636.2%33.0%Sex24,72823,53213 more rows
How many employees does EEOC have?
Most employers with at least 15 employees are covered by EEOC laws (20 employees in age discrimination cases).
What cases does the EEOC handle?
EEOC investigates complaints of job discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, disability, age (40 or older), or genetic information. If we believe an employer is violating our laws, we take action to stop the discrimination.
How much is a discrimination case worth?
For those that have between 101 and 200 employees, the limit for damages is $100,000, while companies with between 201 and 500 employees have a limit of $200,000. Finally, companies with more than 500 employees have a limit of $300,000 in terms of possible compensation.
How many lawsuits did the EEOC file in 2020?
EEOC legal staff resolved 165 merits lawsuits and filed 93 lawsuits alleging discrimination in FY 2020. EEOC recovered just over $106 million for charging parties and other aggrieved individuals through litigation, representing the largest recovery through the EEOC’s litigation program in the past 16 years. The EEOC achieved a successful outcome in 95.8 percent of all district court resolutions.
How many charges did the EEOC resolve in 2020?
EEOC resolved 70,804 charges in FY 2020 and increased its merit factor resolution rate to 17.4 percent from 15.6 percent the prior year. Merit resolutions refers to charges that are resolved in the agency’s administrative process (pre-litigation) in favor of the individual who filed the charge. The agency responded to over 470,000 calls to its toll-free number and more than 187,000 inquiries in field offices, including 122,775 inquiries through the online intake and appointment scheduling system, reflecting the significant public demand for EEOC’s services. The agency also reduced its inventory of pending charges by 3.7 percent
How much did the EEOC receive in 2020?
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today released detailed breakdowns for the 67,448 charges of workplace discrimination the agency received in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. The agency secured $439.2 million for victims of discrimination in the private sector and state and local government workplaces through voluntary resolutions and litigation. The comprehensive enforcement and litigation statistics for FY 2020, which ended on Sept. 30, 2020, are posted on the agency’s website, which also includes detailed breakdowns of charges by state.
What percentage of retaliation is filed in 2020?
The FY 2020 data show that retaliation remained the most frequently cited claim in charges filed with the agency—accounting for a staggering 55.8 percent of all charges filed—followed by disability, race and sex.
What is the EEOC?
The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates .
How many discrimination cases were filed between 1997 and 2018?
Between 1997 and 2018, there were over 710,500 discrimination complaints filed to the EEOC for one category: color and race. While the total number of cases dipped slightly from 2002 to 2005, there was an intense spike in color and race discrimination charges in 2006 that continued to climb into 2010. The total number of color and race discrimination charges remains higher than any other category of complaints.
How many discrimination cases have been filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission?
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission facilitates additional layers of protection for the same purpose. Still, despite federal and state laws geared toward illuminating discrimination in the workplace, more than 1.8 million cases have been filed with the EEOC in the last two decades. While a majority of charges brought to the EEOC were either unfounded or closed for administrative reasons, there’s been no major decrease in the total number of discrimination complaints reported to the EEOC since 1997.
How many complaints have been filed with the EEOC since 1997?
Read on as we break down the more than 1.8 million complaints filed with the EEOC since 1997.
Which state has the most age discrimination?
New Mexico nearly tied with Alabama for the most complaints centered on equal pay discrimination and led the country (along with Alabama) from 2009 to 2018 for age and national origin discrimination complaints. In 2016, there were 20,857 claims of age discrimination filed across the country, making it the ninth-consecutive year where employees alleged more than 20,000 cases of ageism in the U.S. workforce.
What are the signs of discrimination?
However, employees should be cognizant of how discrimination still exists in their industry. Shady hiring practices, unfair promotional structures, unequal pay, and retaliatory behavior are all signs of discrimination.
Why is discrimination rising?
Analysts suggest there are many reasons why the total number of discrimination claims continues to rise. From heightened awareness of what’s qualified as illegal behavior to increased coverage in the news of what discrimination looks like, more people may feel compelled to bring their concerns to the EEOC.
How much money did equal pay cases result in?
Combined, equal pay cases resulted in $157 million in monetary benefits. Both religion and color and race discrimination cases averaged the lowest overall monetary benefits — $13,000 and $14,900, respectively.
What are the statistics on discrimination?
Key Workplace Discrimination Statistics (Editor’s Picks) 1 The ratio of EEOC staffers to US workers was 1 to 82,355 in 2018. 2 Roughly 40% of discrimination allegations the EEOC gets are about retaliation. 3 More than four in ten Americans have experienced or seen racism in the workplace. 4 Only 33 states insulate LGBT employees from acts of homophobia and transphobia. 5 With 62.2 cases per 100,000 population, Alabama has the nation’s highest workplace discrimination incidence. 6 52% of people aged 18 to 34 have tasted or witnessed ageism at work. 7 The gender pay gap is two cents away from closing. 8 Over 80% of Americans with disabilities were unemployed in 2016.
What year was the highest number of violations of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act?
The highest number of violations under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act was recorded in 2008 maybe because the youngest and oldest workers grappled with the shortage of jobs during the Great Recession.
Why are EEOC cases closed?
5. 14.8% of EEOC charges are closed for administrative reasons. (Source: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) These cases were closed before the commission could finish the investigation. In some claims, the EEOC couldn’t act due to a lack of jurisdiction as a result of the untimely filing of the complaint.
How can diversity and inclusion help to reduce racial discrimination?
More diversity and inclusion programs could drive down the stats on racial discrimination in different states. In theory, a workforce made up of people from various races or ethnicities could promote greater tolerance and sensitivity to other groups than a white-dominated working environment.
Why do statistics on discrimination categories hardly include figures about weight stigma?
Typical stats on different discrimination categories hardly include figures about weight stigma because there’s proof that obese workers can come with more disadvantages than advantages.
How many states insulate LGBT employees from acts of homophobia and transphobia?
Only 33 states insulate LGBT employees from acts of homophobia and transphobia. With 62.2 cases per 100,000 population, Alabama has the nation’s highest workplace discrimination incidence. 52% of people aged 18 to 34 have tasted or witnessed ageism at work. The gender pay gap is two cents away from closing.
When did hiring discrimination decrease for Latinos?
Decades of hiring discrimination statistics say that Latinos have experienced just a negligible decrease in recruitment bias against them since 1989.
When did the retaliation lawsuit end?
The comprehensive enforcement and litigation statistics for FY 2019, which ended Sept. 30, 2019, are posted on the agency's website, which also includes detailed breakdown of charges by state. The FY 2019 data show that retaliation continued to be the most frequently filed charge filed with the agency, followed by disability, race and sex.
What percentage of equal pay is genetic information?
Equal Pay Act: 1,117 (1.5 percent) Genetic Information: 209 (0.3 percent) These percentages add up to more than 100% because some charges allege multiple bases. The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination.
How many cases of anti-discrimination were filed between 2010 and 2017?
American workers alleged violations of federal anti-discrimination laws in more than 1 million cases filed with these agencies between fiscal years 2010 and 2017. One case can include allegations of various types of discrimination.
What are the most common forms of discrimination?
Among these 930,000 closed cases, the most commonly alleged forms of discrimination were retaliation, racial discrimination, sexual discrimination, age discrimination and discrimination related to a disability or other medical condition .
What is the most common outcome for complainants?
The most common outcome for complainants, occuring in nearly two-thirds of all closed cases, is a “no cause” finding. In most cases, this means the agencies did not determine whether discrimination occurred. This does not stop a complainant from taking the case to court.
How long does it take to file a complaint against an employer?
Typically employees must file a complaint within 180 or 300 days of the date the discrimination took place.
What is relief from discrimination?
Relief from employment discrimination can mean monetary compensation, either through a settlement or court action, or a change in work conditions, like providing physical accommodations for a worker who uses a wheelchair. The most common outcome for complainants, occuring in nearly two-thirds of all closed cases, is a “no cause” finding.
How many cases are there on a screen?
Each point on the screen represents 50 of these cases.
Can you file a retaliation complaint with the EEOC?
*Workers and applicants can file retaliation complaints to the EEOC if they participate in any legally protected activity related to equal employment, including speaking up about discrimination, supporting a colleague’s discrimination complaint, requesting disability or religious accommodations, resisting sexual advances or seeking information about pay to uncover potential discrimination.
What is the type of discrimination that involves individuals or groups being paid different rates for the same work?
This type of discrimination involves individuals or groups being paid different rates for the same work. Retaliation. Retaliation is the deliberate discrimination against an employee after they have lodged a complaint against the employer.
What Makes an Employer Guilty of Discrimination?
Federal anti-discrimination laws state that it is illegal to discriminate against an employee based on:
How Is Compensation Made Up?
If you win a settlement or court case against your employer , you stand to receive compensation made up of the following elements:
What is the role of the EEOC?
The EEOC enforces federal anti-discrimination law and is empowered to investigate your case. If the EEOC investigation suggests that your case is strong, the Commission may decide to help negotiate a settlement with your employer or launch legal action.
What is de facto discrimination?
De facto discrimination means that discrimination happens covertly, despite or outside of existing anti-discrimination policies. Harassment. Harassment can range from casual inappropriate remarks to outright bullying and can take the form of: Sexual harassment of various types. Verbal harassment.
Is discrimination illegal?
Workplace discrimination is illegal for a reason. If you are a victim of discrimination, it can affect your livelihood, your psychological health, and the wellbeing of your family. It is only fair to expect adequate compensation if you have suffered discrimination at work. DoNotPay takes you through the current discrimination settlements average ...
Is it fair to expect compensation if you have suffered discrimination at work?
It is only fair to expect adequate compensation if you have suffered discrimination at work.
What is the goal of a discrimination lawsuit?
The goal of any lawsuit is, of course, to try to make the victim of the discrimination “whole” – at least to the extent that it is possible to do so. Nevertheless, there are certain factors that your attorney may consider in helping you to place an estimated value on your case. Some of these factors include:
How does the identity of an employer affect settlement?
The Employer: Certainly, the identity of the employer itself will also make a difference in the amount likely to be recovered in a particular case. Some employers, for example, tend to be more litigation-oriented and less inclined to settle a case, while others are more inclined to make settlement offers fairly quickly. Additionally, the larger an employer is in terms of size, the greater the chances are that a larger settlement is likely. On the other side of the coin, if the employer is very small or not very financially profitable, the chances of a significant settlement are much lower.
Who is involved in settlement negotiations?
While these are statutory guidelines that courts will follow in issuing awards, and while they may serve as benchmarks or guidelines in settlement negotiations, ultimately, settlement negotiations are between the employee, the employer, and their respective attorneys. Consulting with your attorney regarding the details of your particular situation and the value your claim may have is therefore always an important step to take prior to filing any lawsuit.
What is settlement in employment?
A settlement is one way of compensation the employee. But more than that, it saves the company time, trouble and costs. Above all, a settlement helps a company save face and this is especially true of they have been at fault. In most cases, the penalties for violating the ADEA can be very severe. If the victim is successful in his/her claim, they may receive the following: 1 Back pay- The damages will be based on the plaintiff’s earnings & the duration of time that they have been out of work 2 Hiring 3 Reinstatement 4 Promotion 5 Front pay
What are the forms of age discrimination?
This discrimination can take a number forms such as: Job advertisements. Promotion. Interviewing. Hiring. Compensation. Job evaluations, Job discipline.
How to contact the EEOC for mediation?
The EEOC always encourages the concerned parties to engage in some alternative dispute resolution via mediation. Call NOW toll free at (800) 738-3353 for a FREE CONSULTATION with NO RECOVERY – NO FEE (No Up-front Costs, Fees or Charges) if you feel like your rights may have been violated. Contact via email.
What is settlement in compensation?
A settlement is one way of compensation the employee. But more than that, it saves the company time, trouble and costs. Above all, a settlement helps a company save face and this is especially true of they have been at fault. In most cases, the penalties for violating the ADEA can be very severe.
How old do you have to be to file a lawsuit for age discrimination?
The existing Federal law protects employees above 40 years of age from age discrimination settlements.
Does age discriminate in hiring?
The law prohibits the employer from effectively discriminating based on age in hiring, promotion, firing, benefit, layoff, training, and compensation & job assignment decisions. All of this holds true unless age is actually a genuine qualification for that particular position.
Is it illegal to discriminate against employees?
The Regulation. Via this law, it is illegal to discriminate against these employees in various matters of employment. It is illegal for the concerned employer to also retaliate against the individual who is pursuing any claims of age discrimination Settlements against the employer.

Concerns in The Workplace
Discrimination Rates, by State
- A total of 916,623 discrimination cases were filed with the EEOC between 2009 and 2018. Of these cases, the highest rates of discrimination complaints occurred in Southern states. Complaints of discrimination and bias in the workplace were highest in Alabama (62.2 complaints per 100,000 residents), Mississippi (60.8), Arkansas (51.7), and Georgia (50.3). While race claim…
Descriptions According to The EEOC
- As we take a more detailed look at employment discrimination in America, it’s important to understand the different types of discrimination people encounter. For age discrimination, color and race discrimination, equal pay discrimination, national origin discrimination, religious discrimination, and sex discrimination, we’ve included descriptions according to the U.S. Equal E…
Statewide Discrimination Complaints
- Alabama had the highest rate of employment discrimination complaints per capita,but it also had the most complaints regarding color and race (8.3), sex (9.7), and equal pay discrimination (1.1). Even though pay discrimination based on sex has been illegal since the ’60s, critics argue it can be difficult to prove under normal circumstances. In Alabama, no state law protects women from p…
Making Progress
- While some states saw a decline in the number of discrimination complaints filed with the EEOC between 2009 and 2018, others saw dramatic increases. Despite a decrease in the number of color and race discrimination complaints in states like Minnesota (nearly 69%) and Oregon (57%), increases were much more substantial in states including Utah (almost 104%) and Connecticut (…
Changes in Workplace Discrimination
- You might think with federal laws like the Equal Pay Act of 1963 or the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the rules surrounding workplace discrimination would be cut and dry. However, employees should be cognizant of how discrimination still exists in their industry. Shady hiring practices, unfair promotional structures, unequal pay, and retaliatory behavior are all sign…
Frequent Cases of Discrimination
- Analysts suggest there are many reasons why the total number of discrimination claims continues to rise. From heightened awareness of what’s qualified as illegal behavior to increased coverage in the news of what discrimination looks like, more people may feel compelled to bring their concerns to the EEOC. People reporting certain forms of workplace discrimination may exp…
Final Resolutions
- Discrimination in the workplace may not be uncommon, but it can be very difficult to prove. According to the AARP, nearly 2 in 3 employees between the ages of 55 and 65 cited age as a barrier to employment. Despite the high volume of complaints surrounding ageism, just 16% of cases focused on age discrimination merited a resolution for the charging party. At most, 22% o…
Protecting Your Employees
- The U.S. Department of Labor enforces roughly 180 laws designed to safeguard workers from discrimination and bias, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission facilitates additional layers of protection for the same purpose. Still, despite federal and state laws geared toward illuminating discrimination in the workplace, more than 1.8 million cases have been filed …
Methodology
- The data presented in this project are from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Enforcement & Litigation Statistics. The most recent year of the data is 2018. It was accessed in July of 2019 for use in this project. The categories explored were age, color, race, equal pay, national origin, religion, and sex discrimination. Age discrimination reports fall under t…
National Employment Discrimination Statistics
- 1. The EEOC and Fair Employment Practices Agencies close over 100,000 worker discrimination …
(Source: WBHM 90.3) Even if the commission doubles this figure, it still won’t suffice if justice couldn’t be seen in most closed claims. The lawyers of some complainants argue the government does nothing more than asking the employer for a comment on the allegation. If this statement … - 2. In 2018, there were 82,355 US workers for every EEOC staffer.
(Source: The Center for Public Integrity) Historical EEOC statisticsshow that this figure surged by a whopping 161%since 1980when the ratio was 31,546 to 1. What’s shocking is that the commission’s budget didn’t drop that much over that period to justify the 42%decrease in perso…
Mixed Workplace Discrimination Statistics by State
- 18. 48 states have drafted or passed equal pay laws.
(Source: National Conference of State Legislatures) The four(North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah, andWisconsin, plus theDistrict of Columbia) that don’t have specific equal pay legislation yet have general employment discrimination laws that prohibit inequitable wages on particular grounds. - 19. 17 states offer no legal protections for LGBT workers from discrimination.
(Source: U.S. News) Even in states with existing nondiscrimination laws for LGBT workers, the employment protections aren’t shared by all. Some statutes cover public employees only while others prohibit biases based on sexual orientation—but not on gender identity. Will stats on discr…
Demographic Employment Discrimination Statistics
- 27. 33% of Native Americans have experienced inequities in wages and promotions.
(Source: NPR) What’s more, 31%of Native Americans face more job application challenges just because of who they are. Economic opportunity is usually scarce in areas dominated by Native Americans. But what’s even worse is that 65%of them are paid less than white employees for eq… - 28. Nearly two-thirds of African-Americans believe that they work for a company where racism p…
(Source: Black Enterprise) Although just 44%of Americans overall share this perception, 76%agree that it’s an issue. The battle against workplace racism is far from over, but at least more than three in fourUS employees acknowledge the problem.
Final Words
- Having biases is human, but discriminating against others is a choice. Regretfully, many of us choose to treat others unequally just because we can. The EEOChas been disappointingly ineffective in eradicating workplace injustices. It continues to be a token anti-discrimination agency without an ample workforce. Until that changes, abusive employers and workers could pi…
FAQ
- Q: What is discrimination in the workplace?
Job discrimination is any action done by someone to treat another member of an organization less favorably on the grounds of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, belief, sex, which covers sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, and maternity, marriage, partnership… - Q: What are the signs of discrimination?
Discrimination in work environments is on the decline, as many recruiters, employees, and co-workers have been sensitive enough to the things that may upset their peers. However, employment discrimination still persists. And sometimes its signs can be too subtle to notice. A…