The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, recently published a proposed “Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace” up for public comment. This initiative is poised to mark a substantial adjustment to the commission’s guidance regarding workplace harassment, given that it has not seen any updates since 1999. Dinsmore & Shohl LLP mentioned that the EEOC had also attempted to release updated guidance in 2017, though that effort was not finalized.
Should this proposed guidance become finalized, it could introduce a significant shift in the handling and perception of harassment within the workplace. This move appears to be influenced in part by the #MeToo movement, which has independently made a significant impact on how society responds to issues of harassment and sexual abuse. The movement itself has pushed for societal changes and increased the spotlight on such issues significantly.
The finalization of this proposed enforcement guidance will undoubtedly have implications for legal professionals working for large corporations and law firms, responsible for navigating the ever-changing landscape of workplace law and its enforcement. It underlines once more the importance of remaining aware of updates made by authoritative bodies like the EEOC to better serve their clients and maintain compliance within their organizations. We will continue to closely follow and provide updates onThe EEOC’s proposed initiative as it develops.