Original research · Updated October 5, 2026
Employment Discrimination and Wage Claims in Washington and Idaho
Employment discrimination charges filed with the EEOC from Washington nearly doubled from fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2025, and retaliation now appears in 68% of them. In Idaho, cases at the state Human Rights Commission rose 120% in three years. This is Trella Commercial’s analysis of federal and state agency data, and what it means for employers.
Key findings
charges of employment discrimination were filed with the EEOC from Washington in fiscal 2025, up 98% from fiscal 2021.
of Washington EEOC charges in fiscal 2025 alleged retaliation, the most common basis (62% nationally).
alleged disability discrimination, compared with 41% nationally.
cases were filed with the Idaho Human Rights Commission in state fiscal 2025, up 120% from 2022. 46% alleged disability discrimination.
wage complaint allegations reached Washington L&I in fiscal 2025, covering unpaid overtime, minimum wage, agreed wages, and paid sick leave. These are generally not covered by employment practices insurance.
What this means for employers in Washington and Idaho
- Retaliation is the claim to plan for. It appears in most charges because it can follow almost any complaint, even one that turns out to be unfounded. How a business responds to an employee’s concern often matters more than the original issue.
- Disability claims are rising fastest. Washington disability charges grew 149% from fiscal 2021 to 2025. In Idaho, failure to accommodate a disability was an issue in 26% of state commission cases in 2025.
- Discrimination and wage claims are insured differently. Employment practices liability insurance covers discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. Wage and hour claims, the bulk of complaints to Washington L&I, are usually excluded. See employment practices liability and the complete EPLI guide.
- Most claims start at an agency. An EEOC or state commission charge is often the first step before a lawsuit, and many EPLI policies pay defense costs from that point.
Washington EEOC charges by basis, fiscal 2025
Share of 1,724 charges alleging each basis. A charge can allege more than one basis, so shares add to more than 100%.
Washington EEOC charges by year
EEOC fiscal years run October 1 to September 30.
| Fiscal year | Charges | Retaliation | Disability | Race | Sex | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,724 | 1,166 | 858 | 595 | 561 | 336 |
| 2024 | 1,707 | 904 | 731 | 573 | 537 | 361 |
| 2023 | 1,562 | 864 | 664 | 484 | 502 | 294 |
| 2022 | 2,168 | 849 | 550 | 397 | 367 | 250 |
| 2021 | 871 | 544 | 345 | 308 | 309 | 207 |
| 2020 | 1,004 | 592 | 406 | 314 | 318 | 255 |
| 2019 | 1,091 | 564 | 400 | 330 | 348 | 270 |
Fiscal 2022 shows an unusual jump in religion charges (1,069), coinciding with a national spike in religious accommodation charges during COVID-19 vaccine requirements.
Idaho: state commission cases by basis
Most Idaho charges are filed with the Idaho Human Rights Commission, which shares them with the EEOC, so its counts are the fuller picture. State fiscal years run July 1 to June 30. A case can allege more than one basis.
| Fiscal year | Cases | Employment | Disability | Sex | Retaliation | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 685 | 636 | 312 | 182 | 148 | 91 |
| 2024 | 498 | 468 | 209 | 154 | 169 | 74 |
| 2023 | 386 | 368 | 170 | 119 | 111 | 51 |
| 2022 | 312 | 298 | 109 | 84 | 84 | 36 |
Issues raised in Idaho cases, fiscal 2025
Washington wage complaints at L&I
Wage complaint allegations received by Washington L&I, by type. These claims are generally outside employment practices insurance.
| Fiscal year | Agreed wages | Overtime | Paid sick leave | Minimum wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,951 | 1,126 | 1,087 | 494 |
| 2024 | 2,116 | 1,380 | 1,212 | 591 |
| 2023 | 1,936 | 1,191 | 217 | 499 |
| 2022 | 1,440 | 1,086 | 597 | 337 |
| 2021 | 978 | 673 | 567 | 268 |
L&I notes that the 2024 increase in paid sick leave allegations is due in part to improved data collection. In fiscal 2025, L&I also received 541 retaliation complaints under the Minimum Wage Act, up from just over 350 the year before, and over 200 complaints under the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act, which includes Washington’s pay transparency rules.
Questions about employment claims in Washington and Idaho
How many employment discrimination charges are filed in Washington each year?
Charges filed with the EEOC from Washington totaled 1,724 in fiscal 2025, up from 871 in fiscal 2021. These counts exclude complaints filed only with the Washington State Human Rights Commission, so total claims are higher.
What is the most common type of employment discrimination charge in Washington?
Retaliation. It appeared in 68% of Washington EEOC charges in fiscal 2025, followed by disability (50%), race (35%), and sex (33%). A single charge can allege more than one basis.
How many discrimination cases are filed in Idaho?
The Idaho Human Rights Commission received 685 cases in state fiscal 2025, 636 of them employment cases. Disability was alleged in 312, sex in 182, and retaliation in 148. Only 54 Idaho charges appear in EEOC's own count for fiscal 2025, because most Idaho charges are filed with the state commission.
Does employment practices liability insurance cover these claims?
EPLI typically covers discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination claims, including defense costs for agency charges. It typically excludes or sharply limits wage and hour claims, such as unpaid overtime and paid sick leave, which make up most complaints to Washington L&I.
Methodology and sources
- EEOC: Table E1b, Charge Receipts by State and Basis or Statute, fiscal 2009 to 2025. Charges can allege more than one basis, so bases sum to more than the total. Excludes charges filed only with state or local Fair Employment Practices Agencies, such as the Washington State Human Rights Commission and the Idaho Human Rights Commission. Small counts suppressed by the EEOC appear as n/a.
- Idaho Human Rights Commission: fiscal 2025 annual report, covering fiscal 2022 to 2025, transcribed from the published tables.
- Washington L&I: Workplace Rights Investigations Report, fiscal 2025, transcribed from the published tables.
- The Washington State Human Rights Commission publishes case lists without a breakdown by basis, so Washington state commission cases are not broken out here.
The summary data behind this page is available as JSON and may be reused with attribution. Suggested citation: Trella Commercial, “Employment Discrimination and Wage Claims in Washington and Idaho,” updated October 5, 2026.
This page reports public data and is general information, not legal advice. Coverage depends on the actual policy wording and underwriting.
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