Top 10 U.S. States guilty of workplace discrimination
An investigation into Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) data carried out by employment law attorneys at Eldessouky Law has revealed which the Top 10 states across America that have the highest rates of workplace discrimination and the three most common types of discrimination faced in each of those states.
The data analyzed EEOC’s most recent dataset that showcases the total number of workplace discrimination charges filed in 2021. A discrimination rate was then calculated by measuring each state’s total number of charges against their respective population figure.
The data revealed that ‘retaliation’ is the most common form of discrimination. Retaliation is when employers, managers, or other company leaders take disciplinary action against an employee for making a formal complaint about workplace harassment or discrimination. Employees across America are legally protected when filing complaints about workplace harassment, making it illegal for an employer to treat employees inappropriately after that.
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States with the Highest Rate of Workplace Discrimination, 2021
| Rank | State | Population | Total discrimination charges 2021 | Discrimination rate per 100,000 population | Most common type of discrimination |
| 1 | Tennessee | 6,910,840 | 5,471 | 79 | Retaliation |
| 2 | Arkansas | 3,011,524 | 2,308 | 77 | Racial |
| 3 | Georgia | 10,711,908 | 8,153 | 76 | Retaliation |
| 4 | Nevada | 3,104,614 | 2,335 | 75 | Retaliation |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 13,002,700 | 9,556 | 73 | Retaliation |
| 5 | Alabama | 5,024,279 | 3,666 | 73 | Retaliation |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,165,129 | 4,410 | 72 | Retaliation |
| 7 | Mississippi | 2,961,279 | 2,023 | 68 | Racial |
| 8 | Illinois | 12,812,508 | 8,538 | 67 | Retaliation |
| 9 | North Carolina | 10,439,388 | 6,813 | 65 | Retaliation |
| 10 | Delaware | 989,948 | 583 | 59 | Retaliation |
Tennessee takes the top spot for states with the highest rate of workplace discrimination, with a rate of 79 per 100,000 people. The most common form of workplace discrimination in this state is retaliation in the workplace, with the most recent data revealing a total of 1,276 charges filed for this type of discrimination. This is followed by racial discrimination, which had a total of 863 charges filed in 2021, and then disability discrimination, which had a total of 819 charges filed.
In second place is Arkansas, with a discrimination rate of 77 per 100,000 people. Arkansas is one of two states within the top ten ranking to have racial discrimination as the most common form of discrimination faced in the workplace. A total of 472 charges were filed for racial discrimination in the workplace. This is followed by retaliation, which had 444 charges filed, and disability discrimination, which had 391 charges filed in 2021. Arkansas had a total of 2,308 discrimination charges across all types.
Georgia ranks as the third state with the highest rate of workplace discrimination, with a rate of 76. The most common type of discrimination is retaliation, with a total of 2,091 charges filed within the state. Racial discrimination is the second most common type of discrimination faced in Georgia, with a total of 1,290 charges filed; this is followed by sexual discrimination, which had a total of 1,084 charges filed.
Nevada ranks in fourth place, with a rate of 75 per 100,000 people and a total of 2,335 total discrimination charges across all discrimination types. Retaliation was the most common type of discrimination faced, with a total of 537 charges; this is followed by disability and racial discrimination, which had 349 and 303 charges, respectively.
Tying in fifth place is Pennsylvania and Alabama, with both states having a discrimination rate of 73 per 100,000 people. Retaliation was the most common discrimination for both states; Pennsylvania had 2,276 retaliation charges, whereas Alabama had 808 charges. In Pennsylvania, disability discrimination was the second most common discrimination type, which had a total of 1,718 charges. Sexual discrimination was the third most common type and had a total of 1,171 charges filed.
In Alabama, racial discrimination was the second most common type of discrimination, with a total of 768 charges filed; this was followed by sexual discrimination, which had a total of 550 charges filed.
Maryland ranks in sixth place, with a discrimination rate of 72 per 100,000 people. Retaliation was the most common type of discrimination faced by workers, totaling 987 charges in 2021. This is followed by disability discrimination, which had a total of 579 charges filed. Sexual discrimination ranks as the third most common discrimination type in Maryland, with a total of 539 charges filed in 2021.
Mississippi ranks seventh, with a discrimination rate of 68 per 100,000 people. Racial discrimination was the most common type faced by workers; 408 charges were filed in 2021. The second most common type of discrimination faced is retaliation, and this is followed by sexual discrimination. There was a total of 395 charges and 342 charges filed, respectively.
Illinois ranks eighth, with a discrimination rate of 67 per 100,000 people. Retaliation was the most common type of discrimination, totaling 1,842 charges filed in 2021. Racial discrimination ranks as the second most common type of discrimination faced, with a total of 1,308 charges filed. Disability discrimination is the third most common type, totaling 1,235 charges in 2021.
Rounding out the top ten is North Carolina in ninth place, with a rate of 65 and, Delaware in tenth place, with a rate of 59.
Employment law attorneys at Eldessouky Law have commented on these findings:
“It is disheartening to see the high rates of workplace discrimination faced by employees across America. Work can be draining for some, but added stress due to racial, sexual, or religious discrimination can be de-motivating, and nobody should have to experience that at their place of work”.
“Furthermore, it is unfortunate that retaliation is the most common type of workplace discrimination. Employers are taking advantage of their power and creating harsh work environments for employees who have filed formal discrimination complaints when it is their responsibility to ensure the safeguarding of all employees”.
Methodology: The discrimination rate was calculated by measuring each state’s total number of discrimination charges against their respective population and multiplying that by 100,000 to eliminate population bias.
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(Sources: Eldessouky Law via EEOC Enforcement and Litigation Statistics, Indeed)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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