There are many costs associated with workplace harassment and discrimination—monetary, reputational and the morale of employees to name a few. In 2012, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reported filing 122 lawsuits including 86 individual suits, 26 multiple-victim suits (with fewer than 20 victims) and 10 systemic suits. The EEOC’s legal staff resolved 254 lawsuits for total monetary recovery of $44.2 million.

The agency added that it secured monetary and non-monetary benefits for more than 23,446 people through administrative enforcement. These methods include mediation, settlements, conciliation and withdrawals with benefits. The number of charges resolved through successful conciliation, the last step in the EEOC administrative process before litigation, increased by 18% over 2011.