Discrimination is one of the most significant areas of legal exposure for employers. Employers face potential liability for discrimination claims throughout every stage of the employment relationship. Avoiding employment liability requires sensitivity to a wide variety of legally protected characteristics, including race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, sex (including gender and pregnancy), marital status, civil union status or domestic partnership status, familial status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, and genetic information.<\/p>\n
Most employers are subject to federal and state laws prohibiting employment discrimination, but not all employers appreciate the related legal risks. In 2015, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reported 89,385 total individual charges alleging discrimination. These numbers are likely to remain high, in part, because claimants may be awarded significant sums without a great deal of personal cost. In contrast, employers sued for discrimination violations often face large financial losses. It is common for employers to pay thousands of dollars in legal fees defending against meritless claims and thousands more settling well-founded claims.<\/p>\n
Solution: Employers can minimize the risk of legal exposure by understanding the legal basics and taking the following preventative measures during the employment relationship.<\/strong><\/p>\n