Benefits March 6, 2008

A New 'Sick' Day Excuse: I've Been Shot

March 6, 2008 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The tale of Daniel Kuch, at least as told by police, lends a whole new dimension to those who rely on a fake ailment as an excuse to stay home from work.
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According to an Associated Press report, police said Kuch, of Pasco, Washington, convinced his friend to shoot him in the shoulder so he wouldn’t have to the report to the office.

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When he first spoke with deputies, Kuch told them he’d been the victim of a drive-by shooting while he was out jogging. But detectives later told reporters that Kuch eventually acknowledged he asked his friend to shoot him so he could get some time off work and avoid an upcoming drug test, the Associated Press said.

The friend, Kurtis Johnson, of Burbank, has been arrested for investigation of reckless endangerment. Kuch was booked into the county jail and is expected to be charged with false reporting.

Detectives declined to say where Kuch works, or whether he still has a job.

Benefits March 5, 2008

Bias Complaints to EEOC Leap in 2007

March 5, 2008 (PLANSPONSOR.COM) - The number of private-sector workplace discrimination charges leaped by 9% during the last fiscal year over the prior period - the highest volume of charges since 2002 and the biggest annual hike since the early 1990s, the government reported.
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A news release from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) about its FY 2007 statistics indicated it received 82,792 private-sector discrimination charge filings. The agency said it also recovered $345 million in monetary relief for job bias victims.

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“Corporate America needs to do a better job of proactively preventing discrimination and addressing complaints promptly and effectively,” said Commission Chair Naomi C. Earp in the news release. “To ensure that equality of opportunity becomes a reality in the 21st century workplace, employers need to place a premium on fostering inclusive and discrimination-free work environments for all individuals.”

According to the EEOC’s FY 2007 data, allegations of discrimination based on race, retaliation, and sex were the most frequently filed charges, continuing a long-term trend. Additionally, nearly all major charge categories showed double-digit percentage increases from the prior year — a rare occurrence.

Last year, for the first time, retaliation was the second highest charge category (behind race), edging out sex-based charges in total filings with EEOC offices nationwide, the agency said.

Also, during FY 2007, pregnancy charges surged to a record high level of 5,587, up 14% from the prior fiscal year’s record of 4,901, the EEOC said. Sexual harassment filings increased for the first time since FY 2000, numbering 12,510 – up 4% from the prior fiscal year’s total of 12,025 – and a record 16% of sexual harassment charges were filed by men, up from 9% in the early 1990s.

Other year-end statistics released today show that the EEOC:

  • Recovered approximately $345 million in total monetary relief for charging parties, up 26% from the prior year’s total of $274 million.
  • Resolved 72,442 private-sector charges, with a historically high merit factor rate of 23%. Merit factor resolutions include mediation and other settlements and cause findings, which, if not successfully conciliated, are considered for litigation.
  • Resolved a record 8,649 charges through its voluntary National Mediation Program (up 5% from the prior year’s record high).
  • Filed 336 merits lawsuits (direct suits, interventions, and other enforcement actions), including 116 class cases involving multiple aggrieved parties or victims of discriminatory policies.

EEOC data are available here . The latest EEOC announcement is here .

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