Avoiding Workplace Discrimination

outline of topics:

• frequency of workplace discrimination

General best practices to prevent discrimination and manage cases include:

• Hire fairly.
• Fire fairly.
• Take complaints seriously, promptly investigate all complaints and document actions.
• Implement and integrate a strict policy that makes employment discrimination of any type unacceptable in your workplace.
• Train your managers in the implementation of the anti-discrimination policy with the expectation that prevention is their responsibility.
• Mandatory employee training should address many of the same issues as the managers’ training relative to employment discrimination.
• Adopt a strong anti-harassment policy, provide employee training and vigorously follow the policy.
• Protect agains retaliation of complaints.
• Establish cultural expectations and norms.

Related Best Practices

• EEOC Best Practices Preventing Discrimination

Resources

• HR Resources

Author

The author of this page is Terry Gardiner

Terry Gardiner is the founder and President of Silver Lining Seafoods and NorQuest Seafoods - a medium-size Alaska seafood processing company; and currently a Board member of the Anvil Corporation, an employee-owned company specializing in oil and gas engineering.

His co-operative experiences include member director of the Commercial Fishermen Co-operative association; creation of legislation for the Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank; and advisor to the US Dept of Health and Social Services for the state Health CO-OPs.

Terry served ten years as a member of the Alaska House of Representatives -several legislative committee chairmanships, Speaker of the House, Chairman of the Alaska Criminal Code Commission and board member on various state and federal boards and commissions.

His non-profit experiences include National Policy Director for the Small Business Majority in Washington DC; working with the Herndon Alliance and ForTerra.

Terry authored the leadership book, "Six-Word Lessons to Build Effective Leaders: 100 Lessons to Equip Your People to Create Winning Organizations".

For more check: Terry Gardiner Long bio