On January 12, 2021, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued a press release announcing its 2021 schedule for data collection after having delayed it in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The EEOC will open both the 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 Component 1 data collection, which applies to private sector employers, in April 2021. The precise opening dates, as well as the new submission deadline dates, will be announced via a notice on the EEOC’s home page as well as on the new dedicated website for EEO data collections.

Background

The EEOC collects workforce data from employers with more than 100 employees nationwide. The data is collected using specific reports/surveys, one of which is the EEO-1 report, and is used for a variety of purposes including enforcement, self-assessment by employers, and research. The EEO-1 report collects data about employees grouped by sex, race, ethnicity, and job categories. This information is shared with other authorized federal agencies to avoid duplicate collection of data and reduce the burden placed on employers. According to the EEOC, the 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.” Although the data is confidential, aggregated data is available to the public.

Employer Considerations

Employers are encouraged to begin preparing to submit data in anticipation of the scheduled April 2021 report opening. In addition, if an employer that must complete EEO-1 reporting has at least one California employee they must also now submit a pay data report that contains specified wage information to the California Department of Fair Employment & Housing beginning March 31, 2021 and annually thereafter. For more information about the California requirements, please visit our blog post.

  • Sequoia clients may reach out to our partner, ThinkHR for additional guidance on pay data reporting.
  • Sequoia One PEO clients may reach out to their dedicated HR Business partner for more information about how Sequoia One assists clients with pay data reporting.

Additional Resources

Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, medical or tax advice. It provides general information and is not intended to encompass all compliance and legal obligations that may be applicable. This information and any questions as to your specific circumstances should be reviewed with your respective legal counsel and/or tax advisor as we do not provide legal or tax advice. Please note that this information may be subject to change based on legislative changes. © 2021 Sequoia Benefits & Insurance Services, LLC. All Rights Reserved

Lizet Ramirez – Lizet is a Client Compliance Manager for Sequoia One, where she works with our clients to optimize and streamline benefits compliance. In her free time, Lizet enjoys live music, travel, hiking and spa days.