Discrimination and Harassment

Discrimination or harassment in the workplace should never be tolerated; they undermine productivity and expose businesses to potentially costly lawsuits. Federal law protects employees from discrimination on the basis of race, gender and a number of other protected characteristics. Federal law also protects employees from harassment, a form of sex discrimination that includes unwelcome sexual advances or taunts. The following resources will get you up to speed on harassment and discrimination, while providing strategies for handling employee complaints and creating a more harmonious workplace.

General Information:

Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws - Overview of federal workplace anti-discrimination laws.
Exception to Employment Discrimination Laws - Primer on the bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) exception to bias laws.
How to Handle Harassment and Discrimination Complaints - Tips and procedures for handling employee complaints.
Discrimination and Harassment: Dictionary - Definitions of terms related to employment discrimination and harassment.

Preventing Workplace Discrimination and Harassment:

Preventing Employment Discrimination FAQs - Answers to frequently asked questions about preventing workplace discrimination.
Preventing Sexual Harassment FAQs - Answers to common questions regarding the prevention of sexual harassment.
How to Create a "Friendly" Workplace - Tips for creating a more desirable and conflict-free workplace.
Sample Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Policies - Sample language to include in employee handbooks.

Types of Employment Discrimination and Harassment:

Age Discrimination - Summary of federal law and tips for avoiding age discrimination claims.
Disability Discrimination - Overview of the ADA, reasonable accommodations and other disability discrimination matters.
Equal Pay Discrimination - Federal law summary and overview of wage disparity claims.
National Origin Discrimination - Overview of applicable law and the basics of national origin bias.
Pregnancy Discrimination - How federal law protects pregnant employees from unfair treatment.
Race Discrimination - Summary of federal law and pertinent facts pertaining to racial bias in the workplace.
Sex / Gender Discrimination - Overview of federal law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender.
Sexual Orientation Discrimination - Summary of state laws prohibiting workplace bias on the basis of sexual orientation.
Genetic Information Discrimination - Overview of genetic information discrimination and federal law under GINA.
Family Responsibility Discrimination - How bias against parents and caregivers can create liabilities.