Today, House Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Representative Ben Cline (R-VA), Republican Leader of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services, sent a letter to U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Chair Janet Dhillon praising EEOC’s proposed rule to increase transparency when the agency attempts to settle complaints filed by employees to facilitate quicker resolutions while continuing to eliminate unlawful employment practices.
In the letter, the Members write: “We are supportive of EEOC’s efforts to enhance the effectiveness of the conciliation process by increasing clarity and transparency, which will result in better and more timely resolutions for workers.” The Members continue: “…workers will obtain in a timely manner the justice they have sought by filing a charge with EEOC alleging an unlawful employment practice. Additionally, the Commission will more effectively carry out Congress’ intent favoring the elimination of unlawful employment practices through ‘informal methods of conference, conciliation, and persuasion.’”
BACKGROUND: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires EEOC—if an investigation determines an unlawful employment practice has occurred—to engage in conciliation efforts before filing a lawsuit against an employer. In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Mach Mining, LLC v. EEOC that these conciliation efforts must meet certain standards, such as communicating to the employer the content of the claim and providing an opportunity for the employer to discuss the matter with the agency. EEOC’s proposed rule aims to increase transparency in the conciliation process by giving employers more information about the underlying charge and their legal obligations. This proposed rule would bring more timely justice to workers who file a charge with EEOC.
To read the full letter to Chair Dhillon, click here.
