Employment discrimination laws are changing rapidly, and HR professionals and managers must keep up with an ever-expanding range of federal, state, and local employment protections. Laws that once seemed unusual or limited to a handful of jurisdictions are increasingly becoming significant sources of litigation and compliance risk for employers.
From natural hairstyles and genetic information to credit history, unemployment status, gender identity, family responsibilities, and protections for nursing employees, employers are facing new restrictions on what they can ask applicants, how they make employment decisions, and how they respond to employees' personal circumstances.
Natural hairstyle laws, for example, have expanded protections in jurisdictions including California, New York, and New York City, with other states and municipalities considering similar legislation. These laws can affect workplace grooming and appearance policies, hiring practices, discipline, and other employment decisions.
The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) creates another important area of compliance. Employers must understand what constitutes genetic information, what information they may lawfully obtain, and how to avoid inadvertently violating federal and state restrictions. HR professionals also need to understand the potential risks associated with medical inquiries, family medical history, and information obtained through workplace health and wellness programs.
At the same time, a growing number of jurisdictions have enacted laws restricting employers from discriminating against applicants based on unemployment status or credit history, or from asking certain questions about an applicant's employment history. Other jurisdictions have expanded protections relating to gender identity, family responsibilities, caregiving, and nursing employees.
This fast-changing legal landscape creates significant challenges for multi-state employers. Policies and practices that are lawful in one jurisdiction may create liability in another.
This practical 60-minute HR webinar will provide an overview of these emerging employment protections and provide HR professionals and managers with practical strategies for reducing risk and ensuring that workplace policies and practices remain compliant. We will examine recent developments, real-world cases and enforcement activity, and the steps employers should take to update their policies, hiring practices, manager training, and employment decision-making processes.
In This Informative HR Webinar, You Will Learn:
- Natural Hairstyle Protections: Understanding laws protecting employees from discrimination based on natural hairstyles, hair texture, and related racial characteristics
- Multi-State Compliance: How state and local laws can create different obligations for employers operating in multiple jurisdictions
- GINA: Understanding the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act and how it applies to employers
- What Constitutes Genetic Information? Understanding genetic information, family medical history, and other information protected by GINA
- Avoiding GINA Violations: Common mistakes involving medical inquiries, employee information, wellness programs, and hiring
- Unemployment Status: Understanding laws restricting discrimination against unemployed applicants and limitations on questions concerning employment gaps
- Credit History: Where employers may be restricted from obtaining or using credit information in making employment decisions
- Family Responsibilities & Caregiving: Understanding the EEOC's focus on Family Responsibilities Discrimination and the potential risks associated with caregiver-related employment decisions
- Gender Identity: Understanding evolving protections relating to gender identity and gender expression
- Nursing Employees: Understanding federal and state requirements concerning reasonable break time and workplace protections for employees who need to express breast milk
- Emerging Protected Categories: Identifying other areas where states and municipalities are expanding employment protections
- Recent Cases & Enforcement: Examining significant complaints, lawsuits, and enforcement developments involving these protections
- Common Legal Pitfalls: Identifying policies and management practices that can create discrimination liability
- Best Practices for HR: Practical strategies for updating policies, procedures, hiring practices, and manager training
- Reducing Employer Liability: Steps employers can take to identify compliance gaps and minimize litigation risk
HR Learning Center's 60-Minute Online Employment Law Webinar Includes:
- Live online training conducted by an experienced employment attorney
- PowerPoint presentation covering key legal requirements and compliance strategies
- Practical handouts and resources
- Certificate of Attendance
- Live Question & Answer Session
Stay Ahead of the Changing Employment Law Landscape
New employment protections continue to emerge at the federal, state, and local levels. HR professionals and managers cannot assume that yesterday's policies will satisfy today's legal requirements.
Join HR Learning Center for this timely and practical webinar and learn how to identify emerging compliance issues, update your workplace practices, and reduce the risk of costly discrimination claims.
This webinar is a must for HR professionals, managers, and anyone responsible for employment law compliance!