Employment Law Information

In a world where we are becoming more and more aware of what goes on behind closed doors, employees are encouraged to come forward if they experience harassment or discrimination at work. Often, new employees must sign the company’s harassment policy, and sometimes businesses provide an anti-harassment and discrimination convention. This article will explore equal opportunity policies, types of harassment and discrimination, and how to overcome these problems at work.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Laws, which strive to create discrimination-free workplaces. When a company describes a job opening as an equal employment opportunity, or EEO, it means that the employers cannot discriminate in hiring, firing, payment, layoffs, recruitment, training, benefits, etc. A business is required by law to post a notice visible to all employees that details their rights under the EEO laws.

Under EEO laws, companies may not discriminate based on age, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, religion, or race, among others. Also, businesses cannot fire or refuse to hire a person if they do not speak English unless it is a qualification for their job. For example, for someone whose job does not include conducting outside business with English-speaking customers cannot be fired for not speaking English. Employers must prove that the job listed absolutely necessitates English if they are discriminating against non-English speakers.

Harassment is purposely offensive behavior towards someone based on their age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, or religion, among other things. Basically, if it qualifies as something that for which you can suffer discrimination, chances are that you can be harassed for it as well. Harassment can be a wide range of action. Bullying, whether physical, verbal, or nonverbal, counts as harassment. Targeted pestering is another form of offensive behavior. Stalking, antagonistic teasing, namecalling, damage to person or property, and threatening or derogatory notes all count as harassment.

Perhaps the most thought-of type of harassment is sexual harassment. Not only can the actions listed above fall under sexual harassment, but there are a number of other offensive actions as well. Indecent touching, sexual assault, rape, lewd gestures or exposure, etc., can all harm a person who suffers from sexual harassment. Although most people think of sexual harassment as something that happens only to women, men can be sexually harassed as well.

If you have been harassed or discriminated against, it can be scary to take the issue up with authorities. However, it is important that you let someone know about your difficulties before it goes too far, or before someone else suffers the same offenses as you.

For more information on EEO and other business practices, try the Business Directory today.

Joseph Devine

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