TOP TEN TIPS ON RECOGNIZING AND PREVENTING ILLEGAL EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION

By Gunther Lie

Discrimination in the workplace is a common problem. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission handles between 75,000 and 80,000 employment discrimination claims each year. A discriminatory work environment can be extremely damaging. Not only can it lead to decreased productivity and lower morale, but resulting lawsuits can also be detrimental to a company's reputation, business relationships, and financial well-being. Furthermore, defending discrimination lawsuits is expensive, and judgments can run into the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.

The following ten tips can help managers prevent illegal discrimination from occurring in the workplace:

1. Treat all employees in an equal and unbiased manner. Never treat certain employees less favorably than others because of their affiliation with a class such as race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, pregnancy, military service, national origin, or disability.

2. Never retaliate against an employee for filing complaints concerning discrimination. Punishing employees for filing complaints or for cooperating in the investigation of a complaint is illegal.

3. Eliminate any illegal screening practices. Illegal discrimination can often occur when an organization's policies or employment testing have an unfair and negative impact on a protected class.

4. Hire, fire, and promote without bias. Employment decisions should always be based on legitimate and legally justifiable reasons--never on personal feelings or bias.

5. Set the example for appropriate behavior. It's important, especially for managers, to set the example for proper conduct in the workplace and to firmly express the organization's intolerance to discriminatory conduct. Performing every aspect of your job in a fair and impartial manner will continuously reinforce these sentiments.

6. Regularly confer with employees regarding discrimination concerns. Keep a close eye on your workplace by taking regular tours around the office. This will make you more aware of discriminatory or other inappropriate behavior.

7. Never ignore inappropriate comments or behavior. Take immediate action against any discriminatory conduct, no matter how minor it may seem. By ignoring such behavior, you are condoning it.

8. Involve employees. Share the responsibility of maintaining a discrimination-free workplace with employees. Encourage their involvement by being available to hear grievances.

9. Make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities and religious needs. Not only can this greatly improve productivity and morale, it can also reduce liability.

10. And lastly, encourage diversity. Teach employees about the benefits of a diverse workforce. Promoting diversity cannot only dramatically improve the nature of your work environment, but it can also strengthen the quality of your organization's work as a whole. *

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