Discrimination Claims in the Workplace

Discrimination in the workplace is an extremely serious matter that causes severe emotional trauma and spawns millions of dollars of monetary fines each year. Obviously, discrimination claims in the workplace are not to be taken lightly. A good PEO knows this and can help you take steps to avoid both the claims and the causes of claims.

Leading the list in 2005 for discrimination claims in the workplace was sexual discrimination, making up 46.9% of cases and with $91.3 million awarded to victims. Race discrimination came in third at 21.1%, and religion only at 3.9%. These discrimination claims are some of the most well-known, and while it is absolutely essential to address the issues that lead to such claims, it is equally as important to remember other discrimination claims such as retaliation, which came in at 35.8%, disability (12.8%), and age (11.2%).

One major way you can prevent discrimination claims in the workplace is by developing and distributing literature on the subject. This literature can be in the form of pamphlets, brochures, leaflets, or can be included in the employee handbook. Regardless of how you package it, you must be sure to address all types of discrimination claims in the workplace, from sex to equal pay, and include ways to prevent it and professional guidelines by which to abide. Further, make it absolutely clear to your staff that violations of such guidelines will not be tolerated, and deal with violators harshly.

A PEO can help you prevent discrimination claims in the workplace by working with you to educate your staff, providing you with literature on the subject and employee handbooks, and advise you on proper courses of action when incidents do occur. Often, PEOs offer workshops or seminars on the subject as well.