The EEOCs Notification Letters have been sent and the lines are now open to complete the EEO-1 survey. Reports must be submitted by the September 30, 2013 deadline.
The EEO-1 is the form that the EEOC uses to collect workforce data from employers with more than 100 employees. Federal government contractors and first-tier subcontractors who have 50 or more employees and a contract or subcontract of $50,000 or more must also report. As the EEOCs websitemakes clear, employers meeting the reporting thresholds have a legal obligation to provide the data; it is not voluntary. Qualifying employers must submit an EEO-1 report, which provides employment data by race/ethnicity, gender, and job categories. The information is used for enforcement and research. The information is also shared with other federal agencies, but only aggregate data is available to the public.
The EEO-1 seems to be an easy form for some employers to forget. A small business that grows quickly may not even realize that it is required to file an EEO-1 when it passes the 100 employee mark. An employer that does not do business with the government may feel it has no incentive to bother with the paperwork. Nevertheless, the EEO-1 is required by law and the September 30 deadline is around the corner. A sample form and instructionsare available on the EEOCs website.