EEOC Delays Required Filing of EEO-1 Reports

In a press release issued May 7, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency, it will delay the collection of 2019 EEO-1 Report Component 1 data until 2021.

The EEO-1 Report is a federally mandated compliance survey that certain employers must file with the EEOC providing employment data categorized by race/ethnicity, gender, and job category. In general, employers who have more than 100 employees and federal contractors who have at least 50 employees and a federal contract of $50,000 or more must file an EEO-1 Report annually. According to the EEOC, EEO-1 Report data is used “to support civil rights enforcement and to analyze employment patterns, such as the representation of women and minorities within companies, industries, or regions.”[1]   

In its press release, the EEOC said it, “recognizes the impact that the current public health emergency is having in workplaces across America and the challenges that both employers and employees alike are now facing.” It also stated that, delaying the data collection until 2021 “will ensure that EEO filers are better positioned to provide accurate, valid, and reliable data in a timely manner.” According to the EEOC, it expects “to begin collecting the 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 Component 1 in March 2021 and will notify filers of the precise date the surveys will open as soon as it is available.”

We will continue to provide further updates and guidance as appropriate on employment issues arising from the COVID-19 crisis. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to anyone on our Employment, Labor and Human Resources team if you have any questions or want to discuss specific circumstances you are facing. Additionally, please visit and bookmark our firm’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Business Resource Center, which is continuously updated with useful materials and resources related to COVID-19. This tool has been made available to ensure that our clients and the broader business community stay informed on key issues that may impact their operations and to navigate the related business and legal issues during these challenging times. 

[1] https://www.eeoc.gov/employers/eeo-1-survey/eeo-1-frequently-asked-questions-and-answers#WhoFiles