Case Processing Advances

The past year was a time of growth and advancement in case processing. Our staff screened, investigated, and resolved more cases than the previous year. But we also received an unprecedented number of new complaints into the system.

Employment continues to be the largest area in which complaints are received, accounting for 87.3% of the new complaints. Discharge, or termination, is the most frequently alleged discriminatory incident. Sex, disability, race and age continue to be the most frequently stated reasons for discrimination, but both race and disability had significant increases in the past year.

Increased emphasis has been placed on doing a thorough screening of newly-filed complaints. Complainants and Respondents are urged to provide complete answers to the questionnaires and to send any additional documentation so that staff can make an informed decision as to whether the complaint warrants further investigation. On the average, screening is completed within 90 days of the filing date.

In spite of these advances in case processing, the caseload is such that accepted cases cannot go directly to investigation. While cases are awaiting assignment for investigation, mediation is attempted. The mediation may be done by one of our in-house volunteers or by a volunteer attorney. Preinvestigation settlement is a benefit to the parties and to the agency by bringing a more timely resolution to disputes that resulted in a complaint being filed.

Changes that will bring about a shorter investigation time are being designed by the TQM Project Team (see section on Total Quality Management). Reducing time spent for each investigation will result in caseload space being freed up for a more timely assignment of the newer cases.

Complaints Filed

Complaints Filed Eight Year Comparison

Year 85/86 86/87 87/88 88/89 89/90 90/91 91/92 92/93
Complaints Filed 1,672 1,515 1,474 1,198 991 1,282 1,562 1,826

 

Case Determinations

Determinations Eight Year Comparison

Year 85/86 86/87 87/88 88/89 89/90 90/91 91/92 92/93
Determinations 1,356 1,203 1,813* 1,470 1,349 1,172 1,362 1,737

*FY93 was the biggest year for determinations except for FY88 because of a large group of complaints that was closed that year.

 

Complaints Filed by Area

Area # %
Employment 1685 87.3
Public Accomms. 110 5.7
Housing 106 5.5
Education 17 <1
Credit 10 <1

(This totals more than 1,826 new complaints filed, as some complaints are filed in more than one area.)

 

Complaints Filed by Alleged Basis

Basis # %
Sex 678 35.1
Physical Disability* 480 24.9
Race 471 24.4
Age 350 18.1
Retaliation 194 10.0
National Origin 116 6.0
Mental Disability* 67 3.5
Perceived phys. dis.* 35 1.8
Familial Status 30 1.5
Religion 26 1.3
Color 4 <1
Perceived ment. dis.* 3 <1
Marital Status 1 <1

*If all disability forms are combined, 30.3% of new complaints alleged some form of disability discrimination.

Also, many complaints allege more than one basis for discrimination, such as race and sex, or disability and age.

 

Alleged Discriminatory Incident

Incident # %
Discharge 841 43.6
General harassment 259 13.4
Terms and conditions 233 12.1
Sexual harassment 196 10.2
Failure to hire 178 9.2
Constructive discharge 158 8.2
Unequal service 105 5.4
Failure to accommodate 104 5.4
Promotion 101 5.2
Equal pay 93 4.8
General treatment 89 4.6
Demotion 72 3.7
Layoff 67 3.5
Reprimand 61 3.2
Benefits 52 2.7
Reduction in hours 51 2.6
Disability 46 2.4
Suspension 46 2.4
Eviction 42 2.2
Pregnancy 28 1.4
Refusal to rent 23 1.2

The remaining alleged discriminatory incidents, such as advertising, probation,
refusal to lease, training, etc., accounted for less than 1% each of the total complaints.

 

Complaints Filed by Respondent Type

Respondent Type # %
Service Private Employer 959 49.7
Manufacturing Priv. Empl. 361 18.7
Governmental Unit 178 9.2
Retailer/Wholesaler 155 8.0
Owner/Proprietor 102 5.2
Educational Institution 81 4.2
Manager 35 1.8
Labor Organization 18 <1
Creditor, Credit Inst. 11 <1
Employment Agency 3 <1
Real Estate Agent 3 <1

 

Cases Filed by Processor (Agency)

Agency #
Iowa Civil Rights Commission 1,318
EEOC 130
Des Moines 117
Davenport 77
Cedar Rapids 70
Waterloo 67
Mason City 49
Council Bluffs 22
Sioux City 20
Dubuque 16
Iowa City 11
HUD 10
Cedar Falls 8
Ames 6
Clinton 3
Fort Dodge 3

 

Cases Filed by County (Top 10)

County # %
Polk 543 28.1
Scott 175 9.1
Linn 157 8.1
Black Hawk 147 7.6
Dubuque 106 5.5
Woodbury 91 4.7
Cerro Gordo 67 3.5
Pottawattamie 71 3.7
Johnson 51 2.6
Wapello 38 1.9

These more populated counties accounted for 74.8% of the complaints filed.
The remaining 89 counties accounted for 25.2% of the complaints.

 

Analysis of Determinations

Type # %
Administrative Closure 607 34.9
AC/Preliminary Screening 371 21.3
AC/Right to Sue 338 19.4
No Probable Cause 111 6.4
Withdrawn 110 6.3
Satisfactorily Adjusted 106 6.1
Probable Cause 27 1.5
Successfully Conciliated 19 1.0
No Jurisdiction 16 <1
Assigned for Public Hearing 13 <1
Closure Prior to Hearing 5 <1
Probable cause/No PC 8 <1
Withdrawn/Satis. Adjusted 4 <1
Final Decision 2 <1
Closure After Hearing 5 <1
No Probable Cause/NJ 1 <1
Total Determinations 1,737  

 

Annualized benefits for FY93 were $429,890.18, an increase of 34.4% over the previous year. Annualized benefits are monies collected from Respondents and paid to Complainants as a result of settlement agreements or final agency decisions.

 

1993 Annual Report Main Page