Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Progress in Meeting Goals Set Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980

In response to a congressional request, GAO obtained information on the paperwork burden imposed on the non-Federal sector by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Specifically, GAO was requested to provide information on the nature and extent of paperwork burden reductions claimed by EEOC under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 and the EEOC methodology for estimating its paperwork burden.

GAO found that several changes have been made in the EEOC reporting requirements that have resulted in paperwork burden reductions which exceed the reduction goals established by the act. In addition, EEOC officials stated that the agency intends to review its major data collection requirements. Although the primary objective of the EEOC review will be to reexamine the type of employment data needed to effectively enforce equal employment opportunity programs, minimizing the employer burden will also receive consideration. The EEOC paperwork burden estimates are based primarily on staff judgment with limited analytical support. GAO agreed with EEOC that further work to validate the burden estimates for current reporting requirements would not be necessary at this time because of the EEOC planned reassessment.