New EEOC document helps eliminate workplace discrimination

New EEOC document helps eliminate workplace discrimination

By Victor Ochieng

Minority communities in the United States aren’t having it easy. They face numerous challenges within the criminal justice system, the streets and their workplaces. Unfortunately, the future also appears bleak now that the Republican presidential front-runner and a billionaire businessman has been making inflammatory comments against different minority groups, including women and Latin Americans. At the same time, some states are passing or fronting laws under the disguise of religious freedom yet they’re discriminatory in nature against members of the LGBT community.

Is there hope that everyone’s rights will be assured at some point?

America is a land of possibilities, and the kind of pressure that was put on a Georgia governor to veto a bill that could’ve significantly discriminated against the LGBT community shows that not all hope is lost. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has also released a one-page, simplified document to provide insight to small businesses on their obligations as spelt out by the federal government anti-discrimination policies.

The document, Preventing Discrimination Is Good Business, is a fact sheet that’s more user-friendly and provides a concise overview of what’s expected of these businesses under the law. It also provides references to enable small businesses to access resources for a better understanding of their responsibilities.

The document is availed in 30 different languages in a bid to take care of business owners whose first language isn’t English. It’s been posted on EEOC’s website and can be access through this link.

The fact sheet was developed by EEOC’s Small Business Task Force steered by Commissioner Constance S. Barker.

The commissioner created the task force in 2011 as a way to provide small business owners with plainly written and easy to comprehend information through diverse avenues, including their website and social media. Its main focus is startups that don’t enjoy the financial might to afford the services of experts and other human resource needs.

The fact sheet is the first document produced by the task force out of a series of resources they’re expected to develop. They’re also expected to avail YouTube videos to provide quick answers to questions often faced by startups.

“I am pleased to work with Commissioner Barker and the Small Business Task Force to provide crucial information to small business owners to assist them in complying with our workplace anti-discrimination laws,” noted EEOC Chair Jenny R. Yang. “The task force is working to ensure that small business owners have the tools they need to ensure equal employment opportunity in their workplaces.”

Commissioner Barker added that “It is our responsibility at EEOC to help businesses understand their legal obligations under the complex and ever-changing federal employment discrimination laws and regulations.”