The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) and the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) have formed a noteworthy alliance, promising to have significant impact on employers across the country. This alliance is not only meant to fortify enforcement of “workplace justice issues” but also to ensure smoother and more efficient handling of employment-related matters and regulatory enforcement.
This alliance came into effect on September 13, it vastly enhances the level of collaboration between the EEOC and the WHD. It is expected that these two influential agencies will ramp up their coordination efforts through a variety of methods, including sharing information, conducting joint investigations, offering training, and carrying out extensive outreach efforts.
The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee due to the person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, transgender status, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. Conversely, the WHD ensures compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of the Nation’s workforce.
With this context in mind, the union of these two agencies is noteworthy. By pooling their resources, and sharing both information and personnel on a large scale, the EEOC and the WHD are well-placed to implement more stringent enforcement of employment laws.
This partnership could raise a new set of challenges for employers, who may now face a more unified and therefore potent regulatory body. It is important for businesses to stay apprised of these developments to maintain compliance with relevant labor laws and to reduce the risk of litigation and penalties.
For more information on the alliance of the EEOC and WHD, refer to the fuller discussion by Trusaic, here.