The importance of preventing discrimination in the workplace cannot be overstated. Smart managers and executives know that denying employees opportunities and a safe workplace is dangerous to those who experience and observe that behavior.
Federal and Florida state law recognizes several populations that are more likely to experience some sort of workplace discrimination or less access to services and opportunities. These populations include women, religious groups, racial or ethnic identities and age ranges.
A watchdog organization that rates corporate equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people downgraded a major retailer from its perfect score a year earlier. The suspension of a perfect score is only the second in the report’s 16-year history.
The U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) pointed to significant enforcement gaps in the corporation’s non-discrimination policy, specifically with regards to sex and gender identity. The rating organization referred to limits in their protection of transgender employees.
The complaints to the EEOC came from locations in Florida and North Carolina, where some controversial laws have also made some LGBT advocacy organizations bristle. Several corporations and sports organizations have pulled investments and operations out of North Carolina as a result of these trends.
Employment discrimination is intolerable in all industries, and it is illegal under federal and Florida statutes in all workplaces. This includes protections from retaliation against those who report harassment and discriminatory practices. An attorney may help victims of workplace discrimination find the right options to resolve these incidents, from mediation to civil action.
Source: Bloomberg, “Equality Score Suspended After Employee Complaints,” Jeff Green, Nov. 09, 2017
