Sharon Fast Gustafson Becomes General Counsel Of The EEOC

On August 8, 2019, Sharon Fast Gustafson was sworn in as the General Counsel of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Serving a four-year term, Ms. Gustafson becomes the first woman to serve as General Counsel at the EEOC. Ms. Gustafson has practiced law in the labor and employment arena since she earned her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Ms. Gustafson served as counsel for Peggy Young in the pregnancy discrimination case, Young v.

Toledo City Council Passes City Ordinance To Ban Salary History

As we previously reported, on June 26, 2019, Toledo City Council passed the Pay Equity Act;  Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz signed the law on July 5, 2019. The Pay Equity Act is a local ordinance which generally prohibits employers who employ more than 15 employees and are located within the City of Toledo from inquiring about, relying on, or requiring job applicants to disclose salary history as a condition of employment.

Toledo City Council Vote To Ban Salary History Question

On Wednesday, June 26, Toledo City Council approved the Pay Equity Act, an ordinance which will prohibit Toledo employers from requiring job applicants to disclose salary history as a condition of employment.  City Council members believe this new law will help prevent pay inequities for woman and people of color in Toledo’s workplaces.  In the absence of this information, City Council members believe pay will be based on ability and experience.

EEOC Releases Top 10 Charges for 2018, Litigation Data

On April 10, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released Fiscal Year 2019 Enforcement and Litigation Date. Below are the top 10 charges for 2018.

Retaliation: 39,469 (51.6 percent of all charges filed)
Sex: 24,655 (32.3 percent)
Disability: 24,605 (32.2 percent)
Race: 24,600 (32.2 percent)
Age: 16,911 (22.1 percent)
National Origin: 7,106 (9.3 percent)
Color: 3,166 (4.1 percent)
Religion: 2,859 (3.7 percent)
Equal Pay Act: 1,066 (1.4 percent)
Genetic Information: 220 (.

Employer May Waive Right To “Failure To Exhaust” Defense If Not Raised Timely

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a unanimous decision on June 3, 2019, that federal courts may be able to hear discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act even if workers don’t bring them to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or an equivalent state agency.
In Fort Bend County V. Davis, Lois Davis filed a charge with the EEOC against her employer, Fort Bend County, for sexual harassment and retaliation.