On January 24, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released its statistics showing the number of sexual harassment claims and settlements in 2019. Full details can be viewed here.
In summary, the overall number of sexual harassment charges dropped slightly from 2018 to 2019 (13,055 to 12,739):
Charges Alleging Sex-Based Harassment (Charges filed with EEOC)
However, the settlements secured by the EEOC (in millions) have increased dramatically from $56.6 million in 2018 to $68.2 million in 2019. These settlement statistics do not include the settlements secured during EEOC-initiated litigation against employers.
What does this mean for employers?
The EEOC continues to ride the #metoo wave by aggressively pursuing sexual harassment charges of discrimination as a top initiative and big money-maker. Employers
must implement robust, annual sexual harassment prevention training and policies. In many states and localities, such training and policies are legally required; violations can result in stiff penalties.
Got questions about how to implement Anti-Harassment policy updates and across-the-board anti-harassment training? Don't worry, we're here to help!
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