Equal Employment Opportunity Law
Know and embrace EEO law to guarantee a harassment and litigation-free workplace
Most of us know there are equal employment opportunity laws in place to protect our employees and ourselves from workplace harassment and the costly litigation that can follow. But how do we as employers ensure we are doing all we can to protect our employees from infringements to their equal employment rights?It is important to remember that equal opportunity laws are not intended to protect only minority or other special protected groups; instead, equal opportunity employment laws protect all employees from discrimination on the basis of gender, race, religion, and so forth. EEO law affects every part of the employment process, from the help wanted ad placed in the local newspaper to the exit interview when employment ends. Some primary examples of equal employment opportunity law currently on the books are:
1. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA) which, protects against gender-based wage discrimination.
2. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protects against discrimination based on race, gender, color, national origin and religion.
3. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), which protects individuals 40 years old and older against age-based discrimination under equal opportunity laws.
Ask an EEO law expert
Educate yourself on equal employment opportunity laws
Knowledge is power...and arming yourself with at least a basic education about EEO law is a good way to ensure you stay ahead of unforeseen problems in the workplace.Educate your staff about the importance of equal employment rights in the workplace
Remind your staff about the importance of keeping your business a harassment-free environment. This can save you time, money, and headaches. Make anti-discrimination a team effort. Train your staff members to embrace equal opportunity and anti-harrassment policies.- Be proactive when dealing with Equal Opportunity Law in the workplace. Having an equal opportunity employment attorney review your employment paperwork and policies before you implement them in the workplace will help ensure a trouble-free work environment for you and your staff.
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