A recent report from the EEOC shows that claims of discrimination in the workplace, whether based on gender, race or other so-called “protected classes”, soared to 99,922 in the year ended September 30, 2010. This represents a 7.2% increase over the 93,277 claims brought in the prior year, and is the highest level of new discrimination cases ever recorded.
The largest increase was from individuals claiming discrimination based on a disability, which may be linked recent changes in the legal definition of disability. These changes made the definition of what is a “disability” under the American with Disabilities (ADA) more expansive.
Most experts agree that the overall increase in discrimination claims is likely due to the high unemployment rate.