EEOC July 18 Meeting Allows Public to Present Views on Proposed Strategic Enforcement Plan

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) – the agency that enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination – held a public meeting on July 18, 2012 to hear views on its proposed Strategic Enforcement Plan (SEP) from representatives of academic, business, civil rights, and federal sector communities, along with former EEOC leaders and current employees. The press release about the July 18 meeting is available at: http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/7-18-12.cfm. Testimony and transcripts from the July 18 meeting will be available at: http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/meetings/7-18-12/index.cfm. The Strategic Enforcement Plan is part of the EEOC’s ‘Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2012-2016’ adopted in February 2012 that established three objectives: strategic law enforcement, education and outreach, and efficiently serving the public. One requirement of the plan was to develop the SEP and have it in place by the start of fiscal year 2013 in October 2012. The EEOC Strategic Plan is available at: http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/plan/strategic_plan_12to16.cfm. As reported earlier in the ESR News blog ‘EEOC Meeting July 18 to Hear Input on Strategic Enforcement Plan to Combat Workplace Discrimination,’ the EEOC sought views from five roundtables – Former EEOC Leadership, Private and State and Local Government Sectors I & II, Federal Sector, and EEOC Employees – about what its national priorities should be for the next three years to have the greatest impact in combating discrimination in the workplace. According to the EEOC press release, panelists from roundtables offered the following views at the July 18 meeting:

• Participants wanted the EEOC to continue to use systemic investigations and litigation to target issues and practices where government enforcement will have the greatest impact.
• Advocacy groups urged the EEOC to focus on hiring discrimination and retaliation, pay, pregnancy, and caregiver discrimination, and develop issues under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA).
• Employee and employer representatives called for consistent practices and procedures across field offices.
• Participants requested the EEOC devote more resources to charge processing and new outreach and education initiatives that included greater use of social media.
• Participants focusing on the federal sector noted the need for the EEOC to clarify the role of agency counsel in the investigative stage of proceedings, increased oversight of federal agency enforcement, and training for managers and employees.

The EEOC will hold open the July 18, 2012 meeting record for 15 days for audience members and the public may submit written comments on any issues or matters discussed at the meeting. Public comments may be mailed to Commission Meeting, EEOC Executive Officer, 131 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20507, or e-mailed to [email protected]. At a previous EEOC meeting on April 25, 2012, the EEOC voted to update Enforcement Guidance on the Consideration of Arrest and Conviction Records in Employment Decisions Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The updated EEOC guidance is available at: http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/arrest_conviction.cfm. Testimony and transcripts from the April 25 meeting are available at: http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/meetings/4-25-12/index.cfm. For information about background checks, visit Employment Screening Resources (ESR) – ‘The Background Check Authority’ and nationwide background screening firm accredited by The National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS®) – at https://www.esrcheck.com/, call 415.898.0044, or email [email protected]. Sources: http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/7-18-12.cfm http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/meetings/7-18-12/index.cfm http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/plan/strategic_plan_12to16.cfm https://www.esrcheck.com/wordpress/2012/07/12/eeoc-meeting-july-18-to-hear-input-on-strategic-enforcement-plan-to-combat-workplace-discrimination/ http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/adaaa_info.cfm http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/arrest_conviction.cfm http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/meetings/4-25-12/index.cfm About Employment Screening Resources (ESR): Employment Screening Resources (ESR) – ‘The Background Check Authority^SM’– provides accurate and actionable information, empowering employers to make informed safe hiring decisions for the benefit for our clients, their employees, and the public. ESR literally wrote the book on background screening with “The Safe Hiring Manual” by Founder and CEO Lester Rosen. ESR is accredited by The National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS), a distinction held by a small percentage of screening firms. By choosing an accredited screening firm like ESR, employers know they have selected an agency that meets the highest industry standards. For more information about Employment Screening Resources (ESR), visit https://www.esrcheck.com/, call 415.898.0044 or 888.999.4474 (Toll Free), or email [email protected]. About ESR News: The Employment Screening Resources (ESR) News blog – ESR News – provides employment screening information for employers, recruiters, and jobseekers on a variety of topics including credit reports, criminal records, data privacy, discrimination, E-Verify, jobs reports, legal updates, negligent hiring, workplace violence, and use of search engines and social network sites for background checks. For more information about ESR News or to send comments or questions, please email ESR News Editor Thomas Ahearn at [email protected].]]>