State and federal anti-discrimination laws prohibit employers from discriminating against employees and applicants on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, and national origin. Larger businesses are also prohibited from discriminating on the basis of age and disability.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently announced that charges of workplace discrimination reached record levels in 2010, reporting the highest number of charges in the agency’s 45-year history. As in past years, race and sex discrimination were the most frequently filed cases, but there was also an increase in the number of cases that were filed for disability, religion and national origin.

According to the agency’s annual report, the EEOC recovered a total of approximately $319 million in monetary relief for charging parties last year. Penalties assessed during a discrimination lawsuit against a business with less than 50 employees can range up to $50,000 per complaint. Although Federal law requires at least 15 employees on staff to file a discrimination claim with the EEOC, state laws may allow a discrimination claim with as few as one employee.

An employer's best defense against discrimination is to develop a strong equal employment opportunity (EEO) policy that is clearly communicated and accepted by both managers and employees. To ensure compliance with pertinent labor laws and avoid potential liability in discrimination claims, employers must educate themselves, their supervisors, and managers about the legal issues that affect the workplace and post mandatory notices. Personnel Concepts has created a program that helps you meet your obligations as well as mitigate the risk of costly discrimination claims. Our all-in-one EEO Compliance Program includes plain language law summaries, topical guidance, documentation forms, and training materials to help you ensure your compliance. It addresses all forms of discrimination prohibited by state and federal laws.

Who Needs It
All employers must comply with applicable state, local, and federal anti-discrimination laws. Employers with less than 15 employees are subject to state and local laws. Businesses with 15 or more employees must comply with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, which are enforced by the EEOC. Businesses with 20 or more employees must also comply with the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).

Benefits
Demonstrates Good Faith Compliance
Court decisions and EEOC enforcement guidance have repeatedly stressed that employers can reduce their potential liability in a discrimination lawsuit if they have proactively implemented an effective discrimination policy and conducted preventative employee training. Our program includes the tools and resources needed to establish a clear policy and an effective
training initiative.

All-In-One Reference Manual and CD-ROM
Our EEO Compliance Program covers every major type of employment discrimination and includes detailed summaries of the most-frequently cited anti-discrimination laws, such as Title VII, the ADA, and the ADEA. It also includes a directory of state laws. When confronted with a potential discrimination complaint or a workforce diversity issue, use the manual or CD-ROM to locate guidance materials that will help you address the issue properly.

Easy to Use
The program also includes reproducible and digital training materials, standardized documentation forms (print and electronic), and customizable sample policies that can be implemented into employee handbooks. Follow the easy-to-use implementation procedures to immediately reduce your risk of a costly discrimination lawsuit.

Specifications
Our EEO Compliance Program includes the following important tools and information:

• An indexed binder with over 150 pages of content and forms
• A comprehensive CD-ROM with digital forms and training materials
• Easy-to-use implementation procedures
• Overviews of applicable state and federal laws
• A guide to workforce diversity issues
• Establishing an effective complaint investigation process
• Customizable EEO policy statements
• Reproducible training materials on eight different EEO topics
• 25 EEO Incident Report Forms
• 25 Complaint Investigation Forms
• 25 EEO Incident Summary Forms
• An 11" x 17" EEO Policy Poster

You can also order the EEO Policy Poster separately in both laminated and unlaminated versions.