Harassment, discrimination and retaliation claims pose a costly and time-consuming problem for employers, including school districts. Verdicts and settlements in employment litigation can be substantial. In its 2012 fiscal year, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) secured a record $365.4 million in monetary relief from private and state and local government employers through its administrative process, which includes resolution of complaints through mediation or settlements. The EEOC also recovered $44.2 million in damages through litigation. Those monetary recoveries do not include damages awarded in other discrimination and harassment actions, such as claims brought under the New York Human Rights Law or the Family and Medical Leave Act, or claims that were pursued without the EEOC involvement.