Tag: Sexual Orientation Discrimination

Despite Senate passage, ENDA faces another hurdle

by Tammy Binford Although the U.S. Senate voted in favor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) on November 7, final passage of the bill, which would prohibit employers from discriminating against employees and applicants based on their sexual orientation and gender identity,  faces an obstacle in the House. The Senate voted 64-32 to pass the […]

Will 2013 see the beginning of the ENDA?

by Judith E. Kramer June was Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, and President Barack Obama marked the occasion by reaffirming his continued support of  “a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act” (ENDA).  During the month, ENDA picked up additional support in the U.S. Senate as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada), Senator Heidi Heitkamp […]

Phoenix bans sexual orientation discrimination

by Dinita L. James On February 26, the Phoenix City Council voted to amend its human relations ordinance to include lesbian, gay, and transgender persons as well as disabled individuals among the groups protected from employment discrimination. The 5-3 vote came after a nearly five-hour public hearing before an estimated 500 people in the city’s […]

EEOC plan reveals enforcement priorities

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has released a draft of its Strategic Enforcement Plan (SEP) that spells out priorities such as stepped-up efforts against hiring discrimination and harassment, new protections for various vulnerable workers, preserving access to the legal system, and dealing with emerging issues like changes brought by the ADA Amendments Act. Recruitment […]

Virginia Senate Passes Sexual Orientation Bias Protection for State Workers

by Michael E. Barnsback On Monday, February 8, the Virginia Senate passed a bill (SB 66) prohibiting discrimination in state employment that includes sexual orientation as a protected category. Although Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine issued executive orders prohibiting discrimination (including sexual orientation discrimination) in the state workforce, this is the first time that […]

Delaware Expands Antidiscrimination Protection in State Government Workplaces

Delaware Governor Jack Markell has signed an executive order that broadens the scope of discrimination protection in state government workplaces. Specifically, the order prohibits discrimination based on gender identity or expression and extends discrimination protection to all military veterans (instead of just Vietnam War veterans). While discussing the executive order and his administration’s commitment to […]

How Employers Can Avoid Becoming an EEOC Statistic: Part 1

by Amy M. McLaughlin In its year-end statistics, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reported that 75,768 discrimination charges were filed against private-sector employers in 2006. That was the first increase in charge filings in four years. By 2008, the total number of charges filed with the EEOC had jumped 25% to 95,402. With workplace […]

Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) Introduced in Congress

U.S. Representative Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009 (ENDA) June 24 in the U.S. House of Representatives. If passed, ENDA would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act is very similar to existing antidiscrimination laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights […]

Sexual Orientation Discrimination and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act

by Gary Fealk There has been a push in recent years to provide homosexual, bisexual, and transsexual individuals with protection against discrimination, including discrimination in the workplace. There is even proposed federal legislation, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), on the horizon that may pass in the next session of Congress. Certain states have enacted discrimination […]

Five Changes to Look for from Obama and New Washington Leaders

by Mark Schickman The historic Democratic Party election sweep is apt to have a major effect on America’s employment and labor policy. The policies promulgated by the Obama White House will receive a favorable reception from both houses of Congress. Here are some of those policies. Free HR Hero White Paper: What’s Next? Seven Possible […]