How Often Do Employees Face Discrimination in the Workplace?

Discrimination has been an uphill battle for thousands of people across the country. Unfortunately, it is still something that many individuals face in the workplace. Workers often face discrimination for countless reasons, including their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disability. If you are facing discrimination in the workplace, you are not alone as exemplified by the EEOC’s shocking statistics that demonstrate how often discrimination occurs in America’s workplace.

Discrimination Cases Across the Country
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), there were 67,448 charges of discrimination filed in FY 2020. Although 2020 discrimination charges decreased compared to the previous year (by over 5,200), there are still thousands of employees facing discrimination in the workplace. According to the EEOC’s Agency Financial Report for FY 2020, the EEOC secured over $535.4 million for employees alleging discrimination in the private sector and local governments.

Most Common Types of Discrimination Cases
The EEOC tracks which types of discrimination cases are filed every year. Their data shows that disability discrimination and racial discrimination are some of the most common alleged claims; representing 55.8 percent of all charges filed. Disability discrimination is a close second, followed by racial and sexual discrimination. The percentages of disability discrimination charges have increased every year since 2008.

Below are the percentages of the different types of discrimination cases filed in 2020:

Disability – 36%
Race – 32%
Sex – 31%
Age – 21%
National Origin – 9.5%
Color – 5.3%
Religion – 3.6%
Equal Pay Act – 1.5%
Genetic Information – .7%
*Percentages total to more than 100 since some cases involve multiple types of discrimination.

Experiencing Discrimination? Contact Us Today!
If you are facing discrimination in the workplace, you are not alone. Many employees have faced discrimination, but you can also file a claim to hold your employer accountable. There are both state and federal laws that protect you from workplace discrimination. Although the statistics listed above are only for federal claims, there are California laws that provide even more protection. Our team at Hennig Kramer LLP can explain your options and the steps you should take to seek compensation.

Contact us today at (213) 310-8301 to schedule a consultation!