Discrimination complaints rise in recession

EEOC claims reached a record high of 95,402 in fiscal year 2008 according to the annual EEOC Performance and Accountability Report:

In FY 2008, we received 95,402 private sector charges of discrimination, a 15.2% increase from FY 2007.

In FY 2008, EEOC field legal units filed 290 “merits” lawsuits
and 36 subpoena enforcement and other actions. 179 of the new filings were individual suits and 111 were class suits. Six trials were held this fiscal year. Legal staff resolved 339 “merits” lawsuits for a otal monetary recovery of $102,151,138 (“merits” lawsuits include direct suits and interventions alleging violations of the substantive provisions of the statutes enforced by the Commission and suits
to enforce administrative settlements). Of these resolutions, 265 contained Title VII claims, 47 contained Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) claims, 41 contained Age Discrimination in
Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) claims, and 3 contained Equal Pay Act of 1964 (EPA) claims.