EMPLOYMENT LAW BULLETIN

Vol. 02, No. 01

Courtesy of Eskridge Law, Attorneys at Law

As we start a new year it is a good idea for employers to assess their employment law compliance -- particularly with regard to avoiding discrimination and harassment, or even the perception of discrimination or harassment, based on any of the protected classifications (race, religious creed, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition or marital status).

One obvious reason to avoid discrimination and harassment from occurring in the workplace is to avoid being sued. There is another important reason, however, that employers should be aware of - discrimination and harassment can lead to hate crimes. Hate crimes are a very real problem in Los Angeles County. For example:

Of all hate crimes reported in Los Angeles County in 2000, 60% were race-based hate crimes, with African Americans being the most frequent victim. Almost 25% of hate crimes in Los Angeles County during 2000 were based on sexual orientation, and 16% were based on religion. (All statistics are from the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations' "Hate Crime Report 2000.")

Law enforcement and the public schools are working on preventing hate crimes and improving diversity education, but corporate America must also help. There are many ways to do this, including providing diversity training in the workplace. Even more importantly, companies need to make it clear to employees that diversity is not just a word the company uses to avoid civil liability -- it is a company philosophy. Better yet, join the Corporate Advisory Committee of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations and be truly proactive in improving diversity and diversity training in the workplace. Among other things, the Corporate Advisory Committee provides diversity information and assistance between the business community and the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission, and serves as a resource for providing technical assistance on human relations issues in the workplace.

To join the Corporate Advisory Committee, just call Antoinette Withers or Celia Zager, at 213/974-7624. Or, if you are interested in attending a meeting of the Corporate Advisory Committee to see what it is all about, call Eskridge Law and we will be happy to take you to the next meeting as our guest.

Eskridge Law, Attorneys at Law, may be contacted by phone (310/792-7021), by fax (310/792-7022) or by e-mail (geskridge@ealaw.net). Please visit our web site at ealaw.net or employmentattorneys.net.

	AREAS OF PRACTICE | ABOUT OUR FIRM | PROFILES
	MEDIATION | CONTACT US | ARTICLES | RESOURCE LINKS | HOME