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Most businesses take note of the advantages that come from diversity in their workforce – but discrimination inside a company can sometimes be hard to combat. Discrimination based on protected characteristics such as race, religion or disability (among other things) is unlawful not only in Florida but on a federal level.
One thing that your company can do to reap the benefits of diversity and prevent costly discrimination claims is to implement a clear anti-discrimination policy. Where can you begin? Consider these tips:
Embed anti-discrimination into your mission statement
Your mission statement outlines the purpose, goals and ethics of your company. Your anti-discrimination policy can be embedded into your core mission statement to emphasize your commitment to workplace equality. By doing this, you set the tone for inclusivity and show that discrimination won’t be tolerated.
Have clear definitions in your employee handbook
While discrimination involves treating people unfairly due to their protected characteristics, there are several ways that this can happen. That’s why your company policies need to include a clear definition of discrimination and examples of it. You can use your employee handbook to outline what types of behavior are unacceptable and reinforce that the company has a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination.
Make reporting procedures and consequences clear
Despite your best efforts, discrimination may still occur. What matters in these cases is that you have efficient reporting procedures. Your team should know where to go should they face discrimination and what to expect once a report is made. Your employees must feel safe when reporting discrimination and there should be no chance of retaliation.
These are just some of the key elements of an anti-discrimination policy. We help companies draft policies that are in alignment with their goals for the future and show them how to protect against unnecessary litigation. Contact us today to book a consultation.
