Another "Happy Birthday" With Some Interesting Trends

In any earlier posting, I noted that this was the 15th year birthday of ADA. Now, I just noticed that this year is the 40th birthday of EEOC.

It is quite fitting, then, to highlight some excerpts from an interview with Olophius E. Perry, director of the EEOC’s Los Angeles District Office, which covers Southern California and Nevada.

Here are what I thought were some of the more interesting questions posed to the director, followed by his answers:

Is there any trend in the kinds of cases you’re seeing in your office?

Has your office seen an increase in complaints filed by teen workers?

What can employers do to keep sexual harassment and other unlawful practices out of the workplace?

The answers that were given were:

Is there any trend in the kinds of cases you’re seeing in your office?

One type of complaint is allegations of race discrimination. A second is cases alleging sex discrimination, and a lot of those include sexual harassment. The third category is cases alleging retaliation.

Has your office seen an increase in complaints filed by teen workers?

Yes. We have, for the last several years, seen a rise in complaints filed by teen workers, and oftentimes the allegations relate to sexual harassment.

What can employers do to keep sexual harassment and other unlawful practices out of the workplace?

If an employer is serious about keeping sexual harassment out of the workplace, having a policy and living by the policy is the right thing to do. The most crucial aspect of a policy is its widespread dissemination, and training.

Sphere: Related Content

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Excellent Guide To Handling Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Complaints

High Court to Hear Workplace Retaliation Case

Posted by Michael Harris

on August 22, 2005

General