EEOC-Initiated Litigation - 2022 Edition

ii | EEOC-Initiated Litigation: 2022 Edition © 2022 Seyfarth Shaw LLP TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I CURRENT TRENDS IN EEOC LITIGATION......................................................................................1 A. Another Year Of Turnover In Commission Leadership And Shifting Strategic Priorities ................1 1. Changes Made; Changes Reversed ......................................................................................1 2. Trends In Case Filings In FY 2021.........................................................................................4 3. Most Active District Offices And Year-End Spike...................................................................5 4. Developments In Subpoena Enforcement Actions And EEOC Investigations ......................6 a. Courts Upholding A Broad Scope Of EEOC Subpoenas After The Supreme Court Clarified The Standards Of Appellate Review In McLane Co. v. EEOC.............7 b. Cases Restricting The EEOC’s Subpoena Power ......................................................10 5. The EEOC’s Strategic Enforcement Priorities......................................................................13 B. The Elimination Of Systemic Barriers In Recruitment And Hiring .................................................15 1. Recent Judicial Decisions Involving Discrimination Against Women Applicants And Employees ............................................................................................................................15 2. Developments In The EEOC’s Pursuit Of Age Discrimination Claims.................................18 C. Protection Of Immigrant, Migrant, And Other Vulnerable Workers ...............................................21 1. Enforcement Developments In Religious Discrimination .....................................................21 2. Developments In The EEOC’s Approach To National Origin Discrimination.......................24 3. Protection Of Immigrants’ Rights To Combat Discrimination In The Courts........................25 D. Addressing Emerging And Developing Issues...............................................................................27 1. Recent Court Decisions Involving Pregnancy Discrimination ..............................................27 2. Continuing Developments In Sexual Orientation and Transgender Discrimination After Bostock.........................................................................................................................28 3. Developments In Disability Discrimination Law....................................................................30 a. Recent Decisions Interpreting The ADA’s Requirements Regarding “Reasonable Accommodations” And “Qualified Individuals”.......................................30 b. Recent ADA Decisions Regarding What Qualifies As A Disability .............................32 c. Recent Cases Addressing What Constitutes Discrimination “On The Basis Of Disability” .....................................................................................................................34 4. Complex Employment Relationships....................................................................................36 E. Ensuring Equal Pay Protections For All Workers ..........................................................................39 F. Preserving Access To The Legal System......................................................................................45 G. Preventing Harassment..................................................................................................................49 1. EEOC Enforcement Efforts In The Wake Of The #MeToo Movement Collide With New Agency Priorities...........................................................................................................49 2. Case Law Developments Involving Harassment Claims......................................................50 a. Decisions About What Constitutes Actionable Harassment .......................................50 b. Establishing Employer Liability....................................................................................53 c. Race-Based And Other Forms Of Harassment ..........................................................54 PART II COMPENDIUM OF SIGNIFICANT EEOC-LITIGATION DECISIONS IN 2021...............................55 A. Motions To Dismiss, Procedural And Jurisdictional Attacks..........................................................55 1. Motions To Dismiss ..............................................................................................................55 2. Other Procedural Attacks......................................................................................................57