Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, EEOC NEWS—Agency announces that Columbia University’s payout will begin, (Dec 12, 2025)
Organizations Mentioned:Columbia University
By WK Editorial Staff
Individuals do not have to file a charge of discrimination with the EEOC or a related state agency to participate in the claims process.
Late last week, the EEOC announced that it has opened the claims process following resolution of charges, including the Commissioner’s Charge brought by EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas while she was still a commissioner, and the subsequent establishment of Columbia University’s $21 million payout fund. The announcement indicates that initial communications to potential claimants were distributed by both the EEOC and the school.
The agency has encouraged current or former Columbia employees, including student employees, who believe they experienced harassment in the workplace between October 7, 2023, and July 23, 2025, because of their Jewish faith, Jewish ancestry, and/or Israeli national origin, and/or because they objected to or complained about such alleged harassment, to participate in the claims process. It states that individuals do not have to file a charge of discrimination with the EEOC or a related state agency to participate.
“Every employee deserves an environment free from harassment tied to their faith or Jewish identity,” said Lucas. “We commend Columbia for providing a robust claims fund to remedy any antisemitism harassment experienced by its employees.”
The website landing page for claims also includes a list of frequently asked questions. Among other things, it notes that the EEOC “will use the claim information to decide if an individual is eligible to receive a share of the settlement fund and the monetary amount they are entitled to receive, if any.”
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