New Department of Labor Personnel Policy Bars Gender Identity And Pregnancy Bias

In keeping with its mission to promote a workplace free from discrimination, the Department of Labor has updated its own personnel policy to include prohibitions against employees and applicants based on gender identity and pregnancy.

The new DOL personnel policy now includes protections against bias based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex – including pregnancy and gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, parental status, sexual orientation, and other non-merit factors.

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis noted, “I am expressing my personal commitment to ensure that the U.S. Department of Labor is a model workplace, free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, which fosters a work environment that fully utilizes the capabilities of every employee.”

Such a policy is in keeping with Federal law that prohibits employment discrimination under Title VII. Title VII prohibits discrimination against employees, former employees and applicants on the basis of their race, color, sex, national origin and religion. Additional federal laws protect against age discrimination, disability discrimination, and discrimination based on genetic information.

If you feel like you have been treated negatively as the result of any one of these categories, it is important to speak to a knowledgeable Georgia employment discrimination lawyer to determine your next steps.

The adoption of a policy against discrimination is an important step in promoting a diverse workplace that is free from harassment and bias.

For more information, or if you believe you have been subjected to workplace bias, please contact the dedicated Atlanta employee’s rights attorneys at Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP.