How to Prevent Discrimination in Your Hiring Practices

Discrimination is generally forbidden in any workplace as stated by the law yet it still is a common thing that happens. It is simply prevalent, subtle, and illegal but preventable. A great preventative way that most employers do is to post state and federal labor law posters.

Most employees do not file legal actions against their employers or co-employees for fear of going against something bigger than them that they just let it be. However, there are employees that might appear naïve but would not in any way tolerate discrimination.

More often than not, it is business owners who are at the losing end of every employment discrimination lawsuit. It may also give your business a bad name. This is why we suggest employers to take action.

Know the Rules and Laws Regarding Discrimination at Workplaces

As an employer, it is your duty to know the workplace discrimination laws. Along with this, you have to comply with posting State and Federal Labor Law Posters as mandated by law. Here are the some of the employment discrimination laws an employer must never neglect if you are running business in US:

• Title VII of Civil Rights Act of 1964 – Prohibits employment discrimination based on color, religion, gender, national origin, and sex preference.
• Equal Pay Act of 1963 – Prohibits sex-based wage discrimination.
• Age Discrimination Employment Act of 1967 – prohibits discrimination against individuals 40 years and above.
• Title I and V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 – Prohibits employment discrimination against individuals with disabilities in both public and private sectors.
• Sections 501 and 505 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973 – Prohibits discriminating qualified but disabled individuals to work in the federal government.
• Title II of Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 – Prohibits employment discrimination based on any genetic information.
• Civil Rights Act of 1991 – Indicates that employer should provide monetary damages should intentional employment discrimination be proven.

Types of Discrimination

In the nation’s campaign against workplace discrimination, the government continually pleads for employers to update their State and Federal Labor Law Posters. Along with the above laws mandated by law, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or EEOC has released the various types of discrimination to make it short, clear, and simple for both employers and employees.

• Age
• Equal Pay/Compensation
• Disability
• Genetic Information
• Pregnancy
• National Origin
• Race/Color
• Retaliation
• Religion
• Sex

The year 2010 was probably the worst year for business owners as the EEOC received the highest employment discrimination charges for the last 45 years. This is said to be driven by the dismal economy then. Today, EEOC keeps improving and updating the federal laws to keep up with the changing trends. For this, it is a must for employers to update their State and Federal Labor Law Posters annually.

Useful Tips to Avoid Discrimination Issues

To help you not to be on the losing end of an employment discrimination battle, here are some valuable tips every employer will benefit from:

• Have a good job description of every position.
• Carefully prepare a set of interview questions and review them over to make sure you are not pushing it too far that might be mistaken as discrimination.
• Get a lawyer that can help you arrange a comprehensive procedure manual for employees who can make sure you are not violating any laws.
• Always review the procedure manual with all your employees and make sure to explain company policies with regards to discrimination.
• Have your managers attend a mandatory training about workplace discrimination.
• Have State and Federal Labor Law Posters on the most common rooms in the workplace.
• Remind everyone to encourage cooperation and equality at every possible moment that you can.
• Prepare your human resources department in accepting discrimination complaints.
• Respond to any complaint quickly.

Business owners truly continue to battle discrimination issues in the workplace. It may be hard especially with the diversity of people working but it is not impossible. Make sure to fully understand and follow everything mandated by law including having State and Federal Labor Law Posters and always work towards the benefit of one another.

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