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Employee Training Tips

Ensuring that employees understand your discrimination rules and policies may help prevent problems from arising.

  • State that discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, disability, age (40 or older) or genetic information (including family medical history) is illegal and will not be tolerated. Provide definitions and examples of prohibited conduct, as needed.*
  • Ensure that employees understand their rights and responsibilities at work.
  • Describe your business's policies regarding discrimination, harassment and reasonable accommodation. If the policies are written, distribute them and explain where employees can find copies.
    • Explain any changes made to the policies since the prior training.
  • Describe your business's policies and procedures regarding discrimination questions or complaints.
    • Identify who employees should contact to ask questions or to file a complaint.
    • Describe the information that you may request from employees who file complaints.
      • For example, you may ask employees to describe the discrimination, including approximate date(s) and time(s); identify potential witnesses; or provide other relevant information or material.
    • Explain how your business investigates and resolves discrimination complaints.
  • Assure employees that they will not be punished for reporting discrimination, participating in a discrimination investigation or lawsuit, or opposing discrimination.
  • Assure employees that you will protect the confidentiality of individuals who report discrimination or participate in a discrimination investigation, to the greatest possible extent.
  • Explain the consequences of violating your business's non-discrimination policies.

* Federal, state and local laws may prohibit additional types of discrimination. Federal, state and local government websites may have additional information about these laws.

See also:

Who is protected from employment discrimination?

Manager Training Tips

Employee Rights