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U.S.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
EEOC Chair Urges Workplace Tolerance in Wake of Terrorist
Attacks
WASHINGTON
- In the wake of this week's tragic events, Cari M. Dominguez,
Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC), called on all employers and employees across the
country to promote tolerance and guard against unlawful
workplace discrimination based on national origin or religion.
"We
should not allow our anger at the terrorists responsible
for this week's heinous attacks to be misdirected against
innocent individuals because of their religion, ethnicity,
or country of origin," Chair Dominguez said. "In
the midst of this tragedy, employers should take time to
be alert to instances of harassment or intimidation against
Arab-American and Muslim employees. Preventing and prohibiting
injustices against our fellow workers is one way to fight
back, if only symbolically, against the evil forces that
assaulted our workplaces Tuesday morning."
EEOC
encourages all employers to do the following:
- Reiterate
policies against harassment based on religion, ethnicity,
and national origin;
- Communicate
procedures for addressing workplace discrimination and
harassment;
- Urge
employees to report any such improper conduct; and
- Provide
training and counseling, as appropriate.
Ms.
Dominguez exhorted all individuals to heed the words of
President Bush, who said yesterday: "We must be mindful
that as we seek to win the war [against terrorism] we treat
Arab- Americans and Muslims with the respect they deserve."
EEOC
enforces Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which
prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race,
color, religion, national origin, sex, and retaliation for
filing a complaint. For example, Title VII precludes workplace
bias based on the following:
- Religion,
ethnicity, birthplace, culture, or linguistic characteristics;
- Marriage
or association with persons of a national origin or religious
group;
- Membership
or association with specific ethnic or religious groups;
- Physical,
linguistic or cultural traits closely associated with
a national origin group, for example, discrimination because
of a person's physical features or traditional Arab style
of dress; and
- Perception
or belief that a person is a member of a particular national
origin group, based on the person's speech, mannerisms,
or appearance.
"Our
laws reaffirm our national values of tolerance and civilized
conduct. At this time of trial, these values will strengthen
us as a common people," Ms. Dominguez said. "The
nation's workplaces are fortified by the enduring ability
of Americans of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and nationalities
to work together harmoniously and productively."
In
addition to enforcing Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964, EEOC enforces the Equal Pay Act; prohibitions against
discrimination affecting individuals with disabilities in
the federal sector; sections of the Civil Rights Act of
1991; the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits
discrimination against people with disabilities in the private
sector, state and local governments; and the Age Discrimination
in Employment Act. Further information about the Commission
is available on its Web site at www.eeoc.gov.
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