The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has recently updated its proposed guidance on harassment in the workplace. This updated proposal reflects significant developments in both relevant case law and societal trends, many of which can be traced back to the #MeToo movement and the rising influence of social media.
The commission initially released this guidance back in 2017, but it was not finalized. The newly proposed guidance seems to broaden the definition of ‘harassment’, which could potentially have a significant impact on workplaces of various forms, from multinational corporations to local businesses.
Many of these proposed updates are shaped by the societal changes brought about by movements like #MeToo, which generated a global conversation about sexual harassment in the workplace. Likewise, the increasing prevalence of social media in professional and personal lives may have provoked a reconsideration of what constitutes harassment in these contexts.
While these developments reflect societal trends and evolving legal perspectives, it is crucial for legal professionals and executives to understand what these changes might mean for their firm or corporation.
For a comprehensive understanding of the proposed guidelines and to stay updated on its progress, legal professionals can visit the EEOC’s latest proposal on their official document repository here.
It is recommended that legal professionals, HR departments, and executives alike study the proposed changes, so they can effectively adapt their own workplace guidelines and protocols accordingly.