EEOC Reports Surge in Disability Discrimination Complaints

From the Associated Press (1/6/10):
Job Bias Claims Based on Disability, Religion Rise
Job bias claims near record high; complaints based on disability, religion, national origin up

By SAM HANANEL

The number of workers claiming job discrimination based on disability, religion or national origin surged to new highs last year, as federal job bias complaints overall stayed at near-record levels.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Wednesday that charges of disability discrimination rose by about 10 percent to 21,451 claims, the largest increase of any category.

The increase coincided with changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act last year that made it easier for people with epilepsy, diabetes and other treatable conditions to claim they are disabled...

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Comment Below: What other factors could have contributed to this drastic increase in discrimination complaints?  Has the economic pressures of the work place led to an increase in discrimination or are streamlined reporting processes increasing the number of complaints to the EEOC? What has your experience been with discrimination in the workplace?

Comments

[J MICHAEL KELLY]

RESENTLY I SIGNED A SETLEMENT THAT MADE ME TAKE A RETIREMENT AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT.

MY ATTORNEY ADVISE ME THIS WAS A FAIR SETTLEMENT. I REALLY DID NOT WANT TO RETIRE.

CAN THEY MAKE THIS AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT

[J Ward]

Prejudice, Bias, and DISCRIMINATION continueS to Grow. - And as far as Livable Wage JOBS, and Training for the DISABLED is concerned,-- $millions wasted at so-called STATE VOC-REHABS,- where the mostly laughable Successful Outcomes are at an all-time LOW! - And DISCRIMINATION & NO "CHOICE", and NO Real CLIENT "IPE"- is the NORM, -- plus "Dont-Rock-the-Boat Policies, AND (you clients are stupid) thrives at these State Voc-ReHabs & RSC-BVR's>. Just ck out the OHIO RSC / BVR, where bottlenecks, hurry-up and go-no-where, wasted Tickets-to-Work, and the so-called Administraors / Counselor - "KNOW-it-ALL" over the Disabled Client Citizen - STILL PREVAILS,- even under President OBAMA!? -- Sad America,- even CONGRESS continues to Discriminate and Torture the DISABLED & ELDERLY U.S. Citizens Living in "POVERTY" on SSDI, AND GETTING no "COLA" for 2010!! 'Plainly unAmerican & Disgraceful CONGRESS'.

[L Coderre]

From what I have heard, the city I live in won't hire people with disabilities. My knees are not good. I have been told that they won't hire people like me, as they are afraid that I (or others like me), would fall, get hurt and file a suit. And i don't have the money to move anywhere else. But from what I have been reading here, it doesn't sound like it would make much differenct anyway. some of us need to start getting involved in public service. We need our own representatives in Washington. maybe it won't do any good, but what might work, might work.

[Ralph]

The EEOC does nothing, the VR does nothing. The numerous "disability" job websites are advertising employers that have NO intention of employing the disabled. I've been locked out of some of them, because I NEED to find a job since I've been illegally fired. I've applied for literally thousands of jobs. I'm told "WE DON'T HIRE THE DISABLED". Why would they hire me, they know there is no effort to enforce the law. Still the government says there is no discrimination! The ADA.gov doesn't have a clue what the EEOC does. The EEOC doesn't have a clue what the VR does. The VR doesn't have a clue what the million "non-profits" do. I'll tell them - NOTHING, except to justify their jobs by filing paperwork and advertise for contributions that goes to the CEO's, not to the people that are in need. Trillions of dollars go into this industry. Nothing is working because we have lost compassion. The mainstream is brainwashing the public that we have it good, because they can see us on the tube and because the government is advertising that a very, very few have good jobs are the "norm".

[jward52]

No wonder that Disability & Age DISCRIMINATION has Grown. - Mnay look at CONGRESS first,- and consider if CONGRESS cares less, then what's the big deal?! - After all, Our' CONGRESS $Bailed-OUT the crooks whom caused the Economic CRISIS,-- and then what did they do to assist or help the most Suffering of U.S. Citizens?-- NOTHING - ZILCH! - For the DISABLED & ELDERLY Living in "POVERTY" , and many on SSDI,- THEY RECEIVED ZILCH for a "COLA"! -- Un-Believable in AMERICA LORD! -- The most Hurting left-out,- and the most greedy "Bailed-Out"!!?? -- We DISABLED need to organize immediately to VOTE-OUT these $Special-Interest Red & Blue Congress- 'turn-coats' whom care Nothing about Us DISABLED.

[jerry shumway]

I have thus far had a very positive experience with the EEOC. They have communicated with me at every turn and answered all my queries. I am going to mediation in less than 90 days from my complaint.

[J Ward]

Justice For ALL ? - EEOC compliance ? Discrimination continues against the DISABLED! - Congress Talks Talks Talks,-- and in reality does NOTHING America! -- Also, Congress Legislates $Billions- to supposedly assist the DISABLED to get Training & return to $Gainful Activity. - But, in reality, many of these monies are mis-used by the State agencies and Bureaus that receive them. - Discrimination against the DISABLED is actually growing. - No wonder so many, like so-called 'Abled seeking Employment - just 'give-up'! -- The DOJ, DOL, and the EEOC -are in denial, and continue to $play Politics with the DISABLED Citizenry. -- Also, that so-called 'Ticket-to-work' was also a Joke. -- WE are in an Economic Crisis, and what is called Our' (allofour) CONGRESS continues to Ignore the most Hurting of U.S. Citizens,-- and especially the DISABLED Living in "POVERTY'! - Justice For All? -- The so-called EEOC doing their' JOB? -- Come on get real People. -- No wonder So many DISABLED seeking a JOB just give-Up,-- after they encounter State agencies entrusted with Federal $Monies,- like Discriminatory, Controlling, Abusive, the-Counselor-knows-best,- "NO-CLIENT-CHOICE-IPE" State agencies like the- - (for ex)- Ohio RSC-BVR. -- - (andthebeatgoesonforthetooolittledisabled)- --jward52

[Cory Silva]

I have to agree with the above comments, I know someone that had a iron clad case against their employer and federal agency attorney's allowed the employers attorneys to use with out rebutting misleading and/or false and/or manufactured evidence and/or information and/or testimony also mislead him at trial as to what they would do and practically did the opposite they allowed the employers attorneys to mislead the court,judge and jury. when they were approched about it they told him they were waiting for the rebuttal to so the jury would have it fresh in their mind when deliberating and they still did not do so. after he contacted law firms that handle legal malpractice case they and other firms would not handle the case because most firms handle cases from the agency and their would be a conflict of interest because of that"Also" here's the best part the agency "can not" be sued unless it actually allows you to sue them, and they told him theres nothing he can do about it!!!!