Q&A

How often are sexual harassment charges filed with the EEOC?

How often are sexual harassment charges filed with the EEOC?

In Fiscal Year 2018, the EEOC received a total of 7,609 charges alleging harassment of a sexual nature. That represented more than a 13% increase in sexual harassment charges versus FY 2017. It was the first time the number of sexual harassment charges filed with the EEOC had increased in more than a decade.

Is there an increase in sexual harassment charges?

On January 24, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission disclosed its 2019 sexual harassment statistics. After a significant increase in sexual harassment charges in FY 2018, the EEOC reports a 1.2% decrease last year. Despite the year-over-year drop, 2019 still had the second-highest number of sexual harassment charges since 2012.

Where can I find sexual harassment charge data?

*Charge data includes all charges filed by individuals in the private sector and state and local government workplaces; it does not include discrimination complaints in the federal sector. **For all definitions of terms please go to: https://www.eeoc.gov/enforcement/definitions-terms.

Can a person file a complaint with the EEOC?

Although the EEOC is one way to report sexual harassment, it is important to remember that the staff member you work with isn’t going to be able to provide you with any sort of legal advice as they aren’t an attorney.

How does the EEOC define sexual harassment in the workplace?

The EEOC defines sexual harassment as “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.”. Even if no sexual affronts or intrusions occurred, it’s illegal in the U.S. to harass a person at work simply because of the person’s sex or gender.

How do we stop sexual harassment?

Under the law, there are three ways to stop the sexual harassment by reporting the unwanted conduct: You can report it to the proper workplace officer or supervisor. You can tell the harasser to stop the unwanted behavior in front of witnesses. You can file a complaint with the EEOC .

What can an employee do about sexual harassment?

Conduct training sessions on sexual harassment for all employees. Inform employees that they should report any evidence of sexual harassment from any member immediately. Develop open lines of communication between the human resources department and employees.

How do I prove sexual harassment?

To prove a sexual harassment claim you will typically need to first file your claim, be prepared to recount the event or events that constituted the harassment, and provide witnesses or evidence of the harassment. It can be difficult to prove claims of harassment without evidence or witnesses,…