Recently, the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) compiled a final tally on the number of EEOC job discrimination complaints made in 2011. The results from the tally could potentially be a cause for concern.

Allegations of workplace discrimination were at an historic high in 2011. From 2010 to 2011, religious discrimination claims rose 5 percent. During the same timeframe, national origin discrimination claims climbed by approximately 10 percent. Age discrimination, disability discrimination and workplace retaliation claims also increased slightly. All told, the EEOC received 99,947 workplace discrimination complaints during 2011.

So what's behind the high numbers? Many experts point to the challenging economic times. Hard economic times can to lead an increase in cost-cutting policies among employers. Some such policies could potentially have unlawful disparate impacts on protected classes of employees.

So what's behind the high numbers? Many experts point to the challenging economic times. Hard economic times can to lead an increase in cost-cutting policies among employers. Some such policies could potentially have unlawful disparate impacts on protected classes of employees.

The EEOC warns that the trend toward more discrimination complaints may continue at least into the immediate future. Still, 2011's workplace discrimination statistics are not all bad. While the EEOC received a record number of claims, the agency also resolved 112,499 outstanding discrimination complaints, the highest number in at least the last 14 years. In addition, some types of discrimination complaints - those alleging race or sex discrimination - actually fell in 2011.

Considering the uptick in workplace discrimination complaints, it would behoove employees to be on their guard for unlawful discrimination. No employee should have to face wrongful discrimination in the workplace and employers should be held accountable when they engage in such wrongful conduct against their employees.

Source: Reuters, "Job Discrimination Complaints Hit All-Time High," Andrew Chow, Jan. 25, 2012