When noteworthy cases are decided or rules issued involving federal anti-discrimination law, Littler often publishes timely articles on these events, particularly when they involve the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or “the Commission”). Littler recognizes, however, that employers benefit also from a yearly overview of these legislative and regulatory activities.

This Annual Report on EEOC Developments—Fiscal Year 2014 (hereafter “Report”), our fourth annual Report, is designed as a comprehensive guide to significant EEOC developments over the past fiscal year. The Report does not merely summarize case law and litigation statistics, but also offers an analysis of what the EEOC has and has not accomplished, and the implications of those outcomes. By focusing on key developments and anticipated trends, the Report provides employers with a roadmap to where the EEOC is headed in the year to come.

This year’s Report is organized into the following sections:

Part One, entitled, “Looking Back at FY 2014: A Review of EEOC Successes and Failures, and Significant Cases and Developments to Watch for in FY 2015,” provides an overview of key EEOC initiatives, accomplishments and shortcomings; offers predictions on where the agency is headed in the coming year; and highlights litigation likely to come to fruition in FY 2015. This chapter sets forth the EEOC’s stated priorities from its Strategic Plan, and evaluates how well the Commission adhered to these target goals. This introductory section is intended as a preview of the more detailed discussions on specific issues included in subsequent chapters.

Part Two discusses EEOC charge activity, litigation and settlements in FY 2014, focusing on the types and location of lawsuits filed by the Commission. More details on noteworthy consent decrees, conciliation agreements, judgments and jury verdicts are summarized in Appendix A to this Report.

Part Three focuses on legislative and regulatory activity involving the EEOC. This chapter includes a discussion of agency initiatives beyond formal rule-making efforts, including the Commission’s issuance of both formal and informal guidance on a variety of contentious issues. This chapter highlights recent and emerging trends at the agency level, as well as the Commission’s efforts to adhere to its Strategic Plan. References are made to more comprehensive Littler updates and/or reports for a more in-depth discussion of the topic, as applicable.

Part Four summarizes the EEOC’s investigations and subpoena enforcement actions, particularly where the EEOC has made broad-based requests to conduct class-type investigations. Case law addressing the EEOC’s authority to do so is discussed in this chapter as well. Appendix C to this Report is a companion guide, summarizing select subpoena enforcement actions undertaken by the EEOC during FY 2014.

Part Five of the Report features in-depth discussions of FY 2014 litigation involving a number of topics, including: (1) pleading deficiencies raised by employers; (2) unreasonable delay by the EEOC in its investigation and use of the laches defense in subsequent litigation; (3) statutes of limitations cases involving both pattern-or-practice and other types of claims; (4) employer challenges based on the EEOC’s alleged failure to meet its conciliation obligations prior to filing suit, paying particular attention to the pending Supreme Court review of the Mach Mining case; (5) intervention-related issues, both when the EEOC attempts to enter a case through intervention and when third parties attempt to join in as plaintiffs in litigation filed by the EEOC; (6) class discovery issues in EEOC litigation, including the scope of discovery in class-based or pattern-or-practice cases, the use of experts, spoliation, and discovery of EEOC-related documents; (7) favorable and unfavorable summary judgment rulings and lessons learned; (8) trial-related issues; and (9) circumstances in which courts have awarded attorneys’ fees to prevailing parties.

Appendices A-D are a useful resource that should be read in tandem with the Report. Appendix A includes summaries of significant EEOC consent decrees, conciliation agreements, judgments, and jury awards. Appendix B highlights appellate cases where the EEOC has filed an amicus or appellant brief, and decided appellate cases in FY 2014. Appendix C includes information on select subpoena enforcement actions filed by the EEOC in FY 2014. Finally, Appendix D highlights notable summary judgment decisions by claim type.

We are hopeful that this Report serves as a useful resource for employers in their EEO compliance activities and provides helpful guidance when faced with litigation involving the EEOC.

To read the Littler Report, please click here.