If your business is facing a claim that you violated someone’s civil rights, then you definitely want to defend yourself. Allegations of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act should always be taken seriously, because Title VII prohibits discrimination and retaliation. If your company does retaliate or discriminate against an employee, then you could find yourself in trouble with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the law.
Title VII prohibits discrimination and retaliation during any point of the employment process
At no time can a business be discriminatory against an applicant or employee because of their:
- Race
- Color
- Sex
- Gender
- National origin
- Pregnancy
- Religion
There are also other kinds of discrimination that are protected against that are outside of Title VII. Get to know the laws and how they may apply to your situation before taking action.
What should you do if your business is accused of discrimination?
First, a business owner needs to know that the complaint was made. It usually comes through the human resources department. Then, there should be an investigation into the situation. If remedial action needs to be taken against a supervisor or other employee, it’s important to do so and make sure that the employee or applicant who was discriminated against sees a positive change in the workplace.
It’s a good idea to work closely with your attorney throughout this process because doing anything wrong could lead to further claims against the company.
Our website has more on Title VII disputes as well as what you can do if your business has been accused of discrimination. This is a difficult situation to deal with, so it’s important to handle it quickly and appropriately.
