Seyfarth Synopsis: This month the EEOC released its 2018-2022 strategic plan, which focuses on preventing and combating discrimination and improving the EEOC's organizational functionality. It also released the agency's 2019 budget request, which mirrors its $363 million dollar request from last year.
Strategic Plan: FY 2018-2022
On February 12, 2018, the EEOC approved its Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2018-2022 (available here). The EEOC is required to publish a strategic plan, which serves as a framework for the EEOC in implementing its mission to combat employment discrimination. The Strategic Plan is not to be confused with the Strategic Enforcement Plan. We like to think of the Strategic Enforcement Plan as the "what," and the Strategic Plan as the "how." The Strategic Enforcement plan, discussed more fully here, explains what priorities the EEOC will focus on. More generally, the Strategic Plan lays out the high level overview of how the agency is going to achieve those objectives. The 2018-2022 strategic plan includes three general objectives:
- Combat and prevent employment discrimination through the strategic application of the EEOC's law enforcement authorities.
The EEOC has outlined two outcome goals of this strategic objective. First, the EEOC aims to stop and remedy discriminatory employment practices and provide meaningful relief to victims. Second, the EEOC would like to exercise its enforcement authority fairly, efficiently, and based on the circumstances of each charge or complaint.
- Prevent employment discrimination through education and outreach.
This objective reflects the EEOC's interest in deterring employment discrimination before it occurs. The primary means to this goal includes investigations, conciliations, and litigation. The EEOC's two goals for this strategic objective include helping members of the public understand the law and their rights, and for employers, unions, and employment agencies to prevent discrimination and address EEO issues when they occur.
- Management objective.
This objective is focused on the EEOC "achieving organizational excellence," which includes improving management functions with a focus on information technology, infrastructure enhancement, and accountable financial stewardship. The EEOC pledged accountability for improving its operations where needed. The two outcome goals for this objective include having staff that exemplify a culture of excellence, respect and accountability, and allocating resources effectively to ensure they line up with their stated priorities.
FY 2019 Budget Request
With its new strategic plan also comes a new budget request (available here). The EEOC is requesting $363,807,086 for fiscal year 2019, which includes $29,443,921 for state and local fair employment practice agencies (FEPAs) and tribal employment rights organizations (TEROs).
The EEOC urges congressional support, citing its commitment to building a digital workplace to increase their efficiency and provide timely service to the public. The agency also states a need for more staff and resources to deliver high quality service. The EEOC says that it intends to maintain its staffing levels in order to further reduce the charge backlog. The funding is also anticipated to cover "rents and mandatory office relocations."
This request is $1.783 million over the fiscal year 2018 Continuing Resolution level, but is the exact same budget request it made for fiscal year 2018. This year's budget goals include: (1) investing in the "agency of the future"; (2) managing the inventory and reducing backlog; (3) improving and leveraging technology; and (4) outreach, education, and strategic law enforcement. Time will tell if the EEOC's budget request will be approved, and whether it will use that money wisely.
Implications For Employers
As anyone who is paying attention to the news knows, the future direction of the budget for many federal agencies is a bit uncertain. For example, President Trump's recently released budget proposes huge cuts for a different federal agency — the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. This makes the relative stability of the EEOC's budget request somewhat remarkable. Whether it can continue to fly under the radar of federal budget cutting remains to be seen. In the meantime, employers should keep in mind that the EEOC managed to file an impressive number of lawsuits last year while operating under pretty much the same budgetary constraints that are proposed for fiscal year 2019.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.