Wednesday, July 27, 2016

EEOC offers guidance for Youth@Work


Do you employee minors? If so, you should be aware of the wage-and-hour laws for child labor. The Department of Labor, however, isn’t the only federal agency taking a look at your under-18 employees. Recently, the EEOC launched an entire portal devoted to the issue.

The microsite, entitled Youth@Work, is the agency’s education and outreach campaign to promote equal employment opportunity for teenage workers.

Most recently, the EEOC updated its site to include a one-page fact sheet on religious discrimination [pdf]. It provides examples of what religious discrimination looks like, offers some practical “keep in mind” tips, and, most importantly, directs employees on how to file a discrimination charge with the EEOC.

Other facts sheets available at Youth@Work include (in English and Spanish) information on criminal records and employment, disability discrimination, pay discrimination, and sexual harassment. The site also has videos and even classroom materials for teachers and students. 

If you employee teens, or are just looking for a good, basic refresher on employment-discrimination laws, then Youth@Work is worth your time. It’s also worth your attention because, if the EEOC is using its time and resources to build this site, you better believe it is taking these issues seriously when a younger worker enters its office to file a charge.