Responding to EEOC Discrimination Charges - What’s Your Business Case in 2025?

Overview:

Discrimination charges are no longer a fringe risk—they’re a defining workplace challenge. In Fiscal Year 2024, the EEOC received 88,531 new discrimination charges, representing a 9.2% surge from the previous year and the highest number in recent history. That’s over 340 charges filed every single business day. Behind each one lies an employer scrambling to interpret what went wrong and how to respond. And in today’s climate, response is everything. The EEOC recovered nearly $700 million in monetary relief for victims last year alone—underscoring the reality that enforcement is not just active, it’s escalating.

Yet, when that official notice arrives, most organizations are caught off guard. What unfolds next is not just a legal process, but a stress test for your policies, documentation, and workplace culture. Unfortunately, many employers still approach these charges with outdated assumptions—treating it as an internal HR issue rather than a quasi-legal proceeding that can escalate quickly if not handled with clarity and control. This training is designed to help professionals move beyond reaction mode by understanding the structure, nuance, and expectations of the EEOC’s charge process.

A common oversight begins with the charge itself. Too often, recipients skim the document without truly grasping what’s being alleged—or they miss the subtext that may suggest broader patterns or red flags. This webinar will help you break down the components of a discrimination charge, explore what’s being asked (explicitly and implicitly), and show you how to prepare a response that’s timely, fact-driven, and compliant.

Another stumbling block is the reliance on generic documentation or poorly assembled statements. We’ll explore what type of records are expected, how to align internal standards with your defense, and the value of gathering manager or witness accounts early. Attendees will also gain insight into a decision point many struggle with: Should you accept mediation? While EEOC mediation is non-binding, your choice to engage—or not—can shape the tone and trajectory of the case. Understanding what mediation offers, and how to prepare for it, can dramatically improve your outcome.

In recent years, the EEOC has spotlighted growing trends in retaliation, disability, race, and sex-based charges, which collectively dominate nearly all filings. At the same time, widely publicized cases—ranging from age-biased hiring programs to racially hostile workplaces—have reminded companies that the real risk isn’t always the original complaint—it’s how you respond to it. This webinar won’t cover these specific legal cases, but it will ground your understanding in the kind of documentation, response planning, and procedural clarity that matters.

Whether you’re new to handling EEOC charges or looking to refine your process, this session offers a structured, insightful roadmap for navigating what has become an increasingly common and consequential part of managing employees in today’s workplace.

Areas covered in the session:

• A review of Discrimination Charges Filed with the EEOC
• A review of a discrimination charge
• How to read between the lines of a discrimination charge
• Should we hire an attorney?
• What is “Non-binding” Mediation and should we accept mediation
• How to outline and prepare your case
• What documentation you need
• Is it beneficial to obtain statements from witnesses or managers
• The importance of having work standards
• How to handle requests for additional information
• Decisions from the EEOC
• How to Respond if the EEOC Finds Cause That Your Company is Guilty of Discrimination

Why Should You Attend?

Because when a discrimination charge hits your desk, there’s no time to second-guess your next move.

This session is built for professionals who need a practical, no-nonsense guide to navigating an EEOC charge—from decoding the legal language to gathering the right documentation and responding with confidence. You'll gain insight into how the process actually unfolds, what investigators look for, and how to avoid the common mistakes that can derail your defense. Whether you're facing your first charge or refining your internal protocol, this training will help you act with speed, strategy, and clarity.

If you want to be prepared—not panicked—the moment a charge arrives, this is the session you don’t want to miss.

Who Will Benefit?

This webinar is essential for professionals responsible for managing employee complaints, workplace investigations, or responding to regulatory inquiries related to discrimination.

Those include:

• HR Managers
• HR Generalists
• Employee Relations Specialists
• Compliance Officers
• Legal Counsel
• In-House Attorneys
• Operations Managers
• Risk Managers
• EEO Coordinators
• Labor Relations Specialists
• Business Owners
• Consultants supporting HR or legal functions