Equal Employment Opportunity Law Education and Training

Design an equal employment opportunity law education and training program for human resource managers
By Michele Vrouvas Ensure that your company's human resource staff is well versed in the intricacies of EEO law to avoid huge penalties that may result from a failure to abide by statutory requirements prohibiting discrimination in employment practices. Equal employment laws stem from the Civil Rights Act of 1964. State governments are required to ensure that companies doing business in those states provide equal employment opportunity to all citizens.

Equal opportunity laws have been the subject of heated public debate over their necessity and effectiveness. Monitoring this debate will offer you insight into the proper application of these laws in your own business. A comprehensive equal employment opportunity law education and training should comprise the following:

1. Rely upon federal statutes setting forth equal employment opportunity laws that states must follow.

2. Learn how to apply EEO law by reading authoritative commentaries written by legal professionals.

3. Complete formal course work on equal opportunity laws so that you will know how to implement them in your company's human resources practices.

Consult the official government sources that equal opportunity lawyers depend on

The first step for any educational program on EEO law should be to find out what a complaint based upon an employer's failure to follow EEO law looks like and how long the review process can take. You'll also want to know whether complainants may file an appeal.
Try:  The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission explains the process of filing a complaint based upon allegations of workplace discrimination. Read how the U.S. General Services Administration is required to comply with EEO law. The website also identifies the various federal acts that relate to ensuring equal employment opportunity.

Educate yourself using articles that define the issues surrounding equal employment opportunity law

A solid training program on EEO law must encourage employees to learn what public policy experts are saying about the effect of these laws on the groups they are intended to protect. Monitor the public debate over EEO law to track changes made to these laws.
Try:  Scholarly articles relating to equal opportunity law on High Beam explain how these laws impact minorities in different settings. The University of Michigan website presents case law analyzing how courts apply EEO law. Discussion articles on US Legal explain the basics of equal employment opportunity laws and terminology related to them.

Take online training courses to learn the basics of equal employment rights

Distance learning programs and online educational courses are either taught by practicing equal opportunity attorneys or provide resource materials written by these attorneys.
Try:  Interactive Employment Training offers programs that will train HR professionals in how to comply with EEO regulations. Train Up.com offers a three-day seminar focusing on equal opportunity employment law compliance. HR Training Center.com offers a one-stop program geared to EEO law basics that HR managers and support staff must know.  

• Equal opportunity employment laws also require companies to ensure that they provide a harassment-free work environment and inform their employees that retaliatory action will not be taken against whistle blowers.