The Legal Aspects of Workplace Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity
This book describes the laws and legal issues associated with equal employment opportunity and workplace diversity. Several of the most important equal employment opportunity laws are discussed with additional information on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which is responsible for enforcing these laws, and a detailed explanation of the steps involved in their complaint process. While many believe there are only positive aspects to equal employment opportunity and workplace diversity, there are a few challenges that can result from employing individuals with varying backgrounds. By reading this book, one will gain a better understanding of this topic and how it applies to businesses and local, state and federal governments. It is important to understand equal employment opportunity, workplace diversity and their laws because they have an impact on everyone, not just employers and employees.
This book is ideal for undergraduate and graduate business students.
An Introduction to The Legal Aspects of Workplace Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity
Even though workplace diversity does provide many advantages to a company, one must also consider disadvantages associated with this issue in order to properly and effectively deal with any discrimination problems that may arise. While there are many challenges associated with managing a diverse workforce, it also comes with its many rewards and benefits such as innovation, creativity and competitiveness in the global marketplace.
With both the increase in the number of American companies expanding their operations globally and the increase in the number of foreign individuals entering the workforce in the United States, the need to effectively manage diversity has become an important business issue. Even though the population of the United States has become increasingly diverse, change in employment and business practices is not always smooth because it can be extremely difficult to change the attitudes of individuals. While many companies understand the need to focus on and embrace diversity as a method to gain a strategic and competitive advantage, it is a distinct issue from the legal requirements regarding employment discrimination.
Diversity concerns valuing and accepting cultural differences while equal employment opportunity concerns the illegal discrimination of applicants or employees based on color, race, sex, religion, disability status or nationality. Several federal laws dealing with equal employment opportunity have been enacted over the years to protect individuals from employment discrimination based on these characteristics. Equal employment opportunity laws apply to private employers, educational institutions, employment agencies, government, labor organizations and any organization that receives federal money.
All of these laws regarding the treatment of applicants and current employees are overseen and enforced by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Not only do equal employment opportunity laws protect individuals from discrimination, they also protect employees from retaliation when they file a complaint against their employer with the EEOC.