The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced this week that it has launched two new nationwide pilot programs that will, for the time being, implement important changes to the agency’s mediation program and charge conciliation process. Both pilots, which were implemented without a formal vote over the objections of Democratic Commissioner Charlotte Burrows, are scheduled to last for six months.
The mediation pilot significantly expands access to the EEOC’s national mediation program, which since originally adopted has proven to be very popular among employers and employees alike. Moreover, the separate conciliation pilot should help ensure greater consistency among the regions and that the EEOC’s conciliation efforts are undertaken in good faith by imposing greater accountability on EEOC staff involved in the conciliation process.
Members of the Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC) can read more here.