In our last post, we highlighted the July jobs report, which included more jobs created in the nation’s economy than what was originally projected. The 255,000 jobs created is further evidence that the economy is going in the right direction. However, with so many new workers in the workforce, especially younger workers, they may not understand their rights guaranteed under federal law.
Indeed, discrimination against protected groups does not stop simply because employers are filling positions, and it remains an issue today. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received more than 3,500 complaints of religious discrimination and filed five discrimination lawsuits last year dealing with this issue. Since 2010, the EEOC has filed 73 lawsuits stemming from alleged religious discrimination. Because of this, the EEOC has pledged that it will improve data collection and outreach on religious discrimination.
The EEOC released a fact sheet informing workers of their rights and responsibilities under federal employment anti-discrimination laws, and how they may make a claim against their employer when the circumstances merit one. This ostensibly will be best for teens and other young workers. Additionally, the EEOC announced changes in how it will collect data from those who make religious discrimination complaints. This will allow the commission to recognize trends and respond appropriately.
Lastly, the EEOC has pledged to improve coordination with the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to develop outreach programs concerning religious discrimination. If you have questions on how best to handle religious discrimination, an experienced employment law attorney can advise you.