EEOC Announces Enforcement Priorities

On August 22, 2023, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) unveiled its four-year Strategic Plan for FY 2022-26, which it will use as a framework for its priorities and enforcement activity.  As relevant to employers, the Strategic Plan establishes 3 main goals for the EEOC:  

  1. Combat and prevent employment discrimination through the strategic application of the EEOC’s law enforcement authorities. Here, the EEOC notes that it will seek to ensure more conciliations and equitable relief versus “simply providing monetary damages.”
  2. Prevent employment discrimination and advance equal employment opportunities through education and outreach.
  3. Strive for organizational excellence through its people, practices, and technology.

With the exception of the note about equitable versus monetary relief, the EEOC’s strategic plan is otherwise insignificant and provides the same general priorities as plans in prior years.