In 2009 and 2010, state and federal courts issued several key opinions on harassment, discrimination and retaliation that impact employers. Also, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently announced its new "strategic, systematic and smart" initiative aimed at stepping up enforcement of Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Age Employment Discrimination Act. The EEOC will issue more interpretive guidance on emerging EEO issues and increase its employer compliance efforts under this initiative.
Here in California, 2009 marked the 50th anniversary of the Fair Employment and Housing Act. In 2010, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) announced the beginning of "a new era of civil rights renaissance filled with a renewed commitment to providing public service, outreach, advocacy and resource."
Employers should be aware that both the EEOC and DFEH will increase their enforcement activities and pursue more litigation against employers that are accused of unlawful discrimination, harassment and/or retaliation. Additionally, there has been an upsurge in civil litigation by current and former employees as more people challenge employment, layoff and termination decisions.
The Arizona immigration debate has led to a rise in race and national origin claims and litigation and in claims by Muslim employees for religious discrimination and failure to accommodate religious beliefs in the workplace. Further, nearly 25 percent of the claims handled by the EEOC involve allegations of unlawful retaliation.
Your best defense to such claims is a proactive approach that includes policy reviews, employee education and training and the implementation of procedures for internal complaint review and investigations.
This month's seminar will address:
- New discrimination and harassment cases, statutes and regulations.
- The dangers of stereotyping, co-worker gossip and stray remarks.
- “Textual harassment” and the impact of technology.
- Best practices for avoiding retaliation claims.
- How to conduct a proactive and effective internal investigation.
Registration Fee: $55.00
Fee Includes Continental Breakfast and Resource Materials
If you have any trouble registering or have questions about this event, please contact Ingez Rameau-Compean at (310) 557-9528 or irameau@ebglaw.com.
Note to Attorneys:
Epstein Becker Green is an approved provider of California Continuing Legal Education ("MCLE") credit. This seminar is approved for 2.0 hours of Professional Practice credit by the State Bar of California. Please note that in order to receive full credit for attending this Briefing, the registrant must be present for the entire session. Epstein Becker Green is committed to the legal education of any attorney who may wish to attend Epstein Becker Green's briefings.