Just last year there were 89,385 individual cases filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for cases of discrimination. Is your organization prepared to recognize and remedy Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) issues before they escalate into litigation? Why is EEO important in the first place? With the appropriate training, your organization can rise above and create a culture of inclusion and acceptance. Consider the following benefits of EEO staff training:
Keep up with changes. First, you must know and understand the law! With more protected categories than ever before, employees must be educated on what is considered discrimination and how to report it and prevent it. It’s important your organization evolve with the laws and regulations surrounding EEO rather than try to play catch up later.
Promote a strong organizational culture. It’s important to create a culture that effectively engages ethics and compliance in the delivery of relevant content that will resonate with employees. The message should be concise and legally defensible content that will inspire employees to do the right thing.
Be proactive. Key employees must know and understand the EEO laws when interviewing, hiring, discipline, and firing. Managers and supervisors should have periodic training on prohibited employment practices (including unlawful harassment and discrimination) and be aware of the EEO investigation process and how it works.
Build a strong reputation. Employers that have EEO policies in place, are more likely to attract a more diverse pool of qualified applicants. Word of mouth among job seekers spreads quickly; organizations with EEO policies tend to be well regarded in their industries. The commitment to fair and equal treatment makes a difference in workforce morale and in the way employees conduct themselves on behalf of the organization.
We hope we’ve answered your question of “why is EEO important?” Do you want to have a revered reputation for being fair and equal? PREEMPT CORP believes that discrimination can be prevented if companies, federal agencies, and individuals know their legal rights and responsibilities. Contact us to find out how we can help eliminate lawsuits and increase productivity by enforcing the laws and providing high-quality training. Don’t become the next EEOC statistic!
