Four EEOC Nominees Confirmed

On December 22 the Senate approved the nomination of Jacqueline Berrien as the chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”).

The EEOC is responsible for enforcing Title VII and other federal laws making employment discrimination illegal on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability or genetic information. These laws cover most places of business that employ over 15 employees.

The Senate also unanimously confirmed Commissioners Chai Feldblum and Victor Lipnic as well as General Counsel P. David Lopez. In March, Berrien and the other two commissioners began serving recess appointments after an anonymous hold in the Senate had blocked a vote on the president’s nominations.

In announcing her nomination, President Obama noted that Berrien “has spent her entire career fighting to give voice to underrepresented communities and protect our most basic rights.”

As Georgia employment attorneys dedicated to employee’s rights, we support these appointments.

For more information, or if you believe you have been the victim of workplace discrimination, please contact Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP to speak with one of our employee advocates.