The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which is responsible for enforcing federal laws against workplace discrimination, has announced furloughs for all its employees due to budgetary constraints. Employees, including those at the Indianapolis office, are facing a one-day, unpaid leave set for August 30. WRTV Investigates first reported the furloughs, which will impact over 2,000 workers nationwide.

In a statement obtained by WRTV, an EEOC spokesperson conveyed the agency's hope of preventing or limiting the furloughs to few hours, “We remain hopeful that we ultimately can avoid a furlough or limit it to only a few hours,” However, the decision to prepare for up to eight hours of furlough comes from an abundance of caution, aiming to avoid a deficit at the fiscal year's end. Meanwhile, EEOC workers in Indiana are among those facing uncertainty as the planned date approaches.

Financial struggles are the driving force behind the planned furloughs, with "mandatory and inflationary budget increases" cited as key factors. HR Grapevine detailed the agency's required budget cuts, including a hiring freeze and the halting of recruitment processes. An HR department memo suggested that even with various cost savings measures in place, the EEOC's expenditures are still likely to outpace their authorized budget, pointing to systemic financial challenges.

Moreover, the agency has undertaken significant budget cuts in several areas, as reported by Federal News Network. EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows informed employees via email, "We filled only a handful of critical positions this fiscal year; made significant across-the-board cuts, with deeper cuts to some programs — for example, permitting travel only for mission-critical reasons; eliminating most training funds; and canceling certain online subscriptions". Despite these austerity measures, the EEOC may still fall short financially, leading to this "incredibly difficult decision" to furlough employees.

The prospect of further furloughs persists if additional savings are not found. As communicated in the HR memo, any necessary updates on this matter will be circulated among the staff.