The Department of Labor (DOL) has weighed in on how it did in 2013.
For the fiscal year ending on Sept. 30, 2013, the DOL obtained $249,954, 412 in back wages for 269,250 workers.
According to the DOL, since early 2009, the agency’s wage-and-hour division has closed 145,884 cases nationwide, resulting in more than $1 billion in back wages for 1,238,589 workers.
The news was announced via a recent DOL newsletter.
Expect similar stats in 2014, according to Seyfarth Shaw’s Alex Passantino:
WHD’s enforcement efforts undoubtedly will continue into 2014, particularly if David Weil is confirmed as the WHD Administrator. Dr. Weil is heavily involved in WHD’s “fissured industry” initiative, which focuses on compliance in industries likely to use independent contractors, franchise relationships, staffing agencies, and subcontractors.
The EEOC did for for itself as well
As you may recall, the The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently announced that it had a banner year in 2013.
Despite sequestration and a decline in staffing and budget, HR’s favorite government agency had a banner year in 2013.
The EEOC obtained $372 million in relief for bias victims in 2013 – a new record.
The good news for employers: Discrimination claims are down.
The EEOC received a total of 93,727 private sector charges of bias last year – a decrease of 6,000 compared to the previous three years.
However, 2013 will still remain as one of the top five years on record.
The EEOC is still sticking with its 2012-2016 Strategic Plan, which involves prioritizing fewer bigger-name cases over smaller lawsuits.
Curious about which types of bias claims were filed the most in 2013? The EEOC will release those numbers soon. We’ll keep you informed.
