EEOC Publishes Updated Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace
On April 18, 2024, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) – which enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination – published updated “Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace” to “help people feel safe on the job and assist employers in creating respectful workplaces,” according to a press release from the EEOC.
The EEOC Guidance focuses on the legal standards and employer liability applicable to claims under the federal employment discrimination laws enforced by the EEOC that protect employees from harassment based on race, color, religion, sex (pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, disability, age (40 years or older), or genetic information.
The EEOC Guidance – which builds on previous work by the EEOC and addresses emerging issues including virtual work environments – updates, consolidates, and replaces the agency’s five guidance documents issued between 1987 and 1999. The Guidance also serves as a single, unified agency resource on EEOC-enforced workplace harassment law.
Harassing conduct is a common workplace problem. “For the five fiscal years (FY) ending with FY 2023, over one-third of the charges of employment discrimination received by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission included an allegation of unlawful harassment based on race, sex, disability, or another statutorily protected characteristic,” the EEOC Guidance stated.
“Harassment, both in-person and online, remains a serious issue in America’s workplaces. The EEOC’s updated guidance on harassment is a comprehensive resource that brings together best practices for preventing and remedying harassment and clarifies recent developments in the law,” EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows stated in the press release.
ClearStar is a global Human Resources technology company specializing in background checks, drug testing, and occupational health screening. ClearStar offers a wide variety of pre-employment screening services to help ensure safe workplaces for employers, employees, and the general public. To learn more about ClearStar, please contact us.
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