EEOC Issues Worksheets to Prevent Continued Rise in Workplace Backlash

May 27, 2002

Source: Sacramento Bee

http://www.eeoc.gov

On May 27, 2002 the Sacramento Bee reported that "the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is moving to stem the rise of workplace discrimination against Muslims, Arabs, South Asians and Sikhs.

The EEOC has instituted a new data base code... [to] track the number of charges received by members of these groups who believe they are experiencing what the agency calls 'backlash discrimination' as a result of the events of Sept. 11... As of early May, the EEOC field offices had received 488 of these...

Complaints filed by Muslims... are up sharply when compared to pre-Sept. 11 numbers. Between Sept. 11, 2001, and May 7, 2002,... the number... increased 157 percent.

The commission has issued two fact sheets to provide more information... [The first] is geared toward employers and gives information about harassment, religious accommodation, temporary assignments, background investigations and where to go for guidance.

The second fact sheet, primarily for employees... includes information on hiring and discharge, harassment and how to file a charge of discrimination."