EEOC Releases Strategic Enforcement Plan

​The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on Sept. 21 released its Strategic Enforcement Plan (SEP) for fiscal years 2024-2028. New for these years, the document emphases the EEOC’s efforts to protect workers from discrimination involving artificial intelligence, pregnancy and long COVID.

“Through the SEP’s effective implementation, the agency will continue to advance equality and justice for all in workplaces across this nation, even as significant challenges remain,” EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows said in a statement.

According to the SEP, the EEOC plans to:

• Target discrimination, bias and hate directed against religious minorities, racial or ethnic groups, and LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Expand the vulnerable and underserved worker priority to include additional categories of workers who may be unaware of their rights under equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws, may be reluctant or unable to exercise their legally protected rights or have historically been underserved by federal employment discrimination protections.
• Update the emerging and developing issues priority to include protecting workers impacted by pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, including under the new Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and other EEO laws; employment discrimination associated with the long-term effects of COVID-19 symptoms; and technology-related employment discrimination.
• Highlight the continued underrepresentation of women and workers of color in certain industries…