Whether you run a large firm or a smaller company, you could find yourself in court for a number of reasons. From contract disputes to allegations of unfair business practices, business owners facing litigation need to understand their options and take steps to minimize the impact of a lawsuit. Moreover, if you are facing legal action over accusations of discrimination, it is especially important to defend your company’s reputation.
It is helpful to take a look at statistics on discrimination charges in order to understand how prevalent these cases are.
Charge statistics for different types of discrimination
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, employees file suit over various types of discrimination, such as mistreatment based on their age, sex, racial background or disability. The EEOC reports that during fiscal year 2020, more than 24,000 discrimination charges filed with the EEOC involved disability discrimination, over 22,000 involved racial discrimination and 21,398 involved sex-based discrimination.
It is important to note that these statistics do not count charges filed with fair employment agencies at the state or local level.
Handling a discrimination case
Discrimination cases often involve many factors that require careful consideration. Sometimes, current or former workers falsely accuse an employer of wrongdoing, while other cases involve a manager’s misconduct. Some employees falsely accuse an employer of discrimination in order to exact revenge, while others simply want to gain access to compensation.
The outcome of a discrimination case could affect your business in different ways, whether other staff members decide to take action, your company’s reputation suffers irreparable damage or you face financial challenges that threaten the future of your business.