Equal Opportunity: It’s the Law
Equal Opportunity: Don’t take chances because it’s the law. Make sure your employee handbook describes your intent to avoid discrimination of any kind. Keep reading to find out more.
Equal Opportunity: It’s the Law
Does your employee handbook have this kind of equal opportunity wording?
“Company XYZ is an equal opportunity employer… without regard to race, color, national origin” and on and on.
This is the “equal opportunity in employment” declaration. Federal and state laws require nearly all employers to hire and fire without discrimination against numerous protected classes of people.
Do you need an equal opportunity policy in your handbook? Yes. Civil rights laws and other laws and court decisions impose the obligation on you and your supervisors not to discriminate illegally in hiring, promotion and termination of employees.
The written policy in your handbook tells employees it’s your intention to obey the law. And it also reminds supervisors that you expect them to obey the law — in all hiring, supervising and termination decisions made on your behalf.
