...pushes the issue of including sexual orientation discrimination in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In July 2015, the high profile case of Obergefell v. Hodges allowed the Supreme Court to interpret the Fourteenth Amendment in which it requires states to issue marriage licenses between two individuals of the same sex. Prior to the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage, 37 states had legalized same-sex marriage. With legally issued marriage licenses, it will grant same-sex couples spousal benefits, but does not protect same-sex couples from being discriminated against at work in the private sector. Our country will allow same-sex...
Words: 1283 - Pages: 6
...Employee Privacy Rights in the Workplace Vicki Puckett COM 120 Allyson Wells October 8, 2006 Do you think that your employee rights entitle you to workplace privacy? Well, think again. The fact is that most employers monitor their employee in one way or another. In the workplace, many employers are violating the privacy rights of their employees by surveillance, genetic testing, and sexual orientation. According to some workplace privacy studies, there is a good chance that your employer is monitoring your internet activities, including the Web pages you read, and messages you read and post in forums, blogs, and chat rooms. Your employer could also be spying on you in several other ways as well. Some may include recording your phone conversations, videotaping your every move within the company, and tracking your location with the company cell phone. Such monitoring is almost entirely unregulated. Therefore, unless company policy specifically states otherwise, your employer may listen, watch and record most of your workplace communications. The rapid growth of workplace monitoring and surveillance technology has far out paced the development of laws that protect worker privacy interests. Modern technology has provided employers with more advanced and effective means of monitoring their employees. As a result, electronic monitoring of employees in the workplace has become far more prevalent in recent years...
Words: 1146 - Pages: 5
...it is still legal in 29 states to be fired for just being gay. In 33 of the 50 states of the United States of America, one can be fired for being transgendered. These states do not have legal protections for members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Community (Solmonese, 2009). So does the “American Dream” only apply to “first class citizens”? This paper explores if the Employee Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) would protect employment decisions, which should be based upon a person's qualifications and job performance, not sexual orientation or gender identity (Solmonese, 2009). For over 50 years when there has been a case of an American being denied employment or promotions for reasons that were unrelated to their skills in the workplace, Congress responded by passing laws which were aimed at designing a system based solely on employee- merit and guaranteeing that subjective considerations do not govern access to employment (Herman, 2009). A specific act that has been brought to legislation, although has not passed, is the Employee Non Discrimination Act. ENDA is modeled after Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which forbids employers from discriminating with regard to hiring, termination,...
Words: 3185 - Pages: 13
...Mallory OCTOBER 2011 Economic Motives for Adopting LGBT-Related Workplace Policies Introduction This study evaluates the economic impact of corporate non-discrimination and benefits policies by analyzing the extent to which economic reasons motivate corporations to adopt such policies. The past decade has seen a large increase in the number of corporations adopting LGBT-related workplace policies. In 1999, 72% of Fortune 500 companies included sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policies, and only a handful included gender identity.1 By 2009, 87% of such companies included sexual orientation and 41% included gender identity in their non-discrimination policies.2 Over the same time period, the percentage of Fortune 500 companies offering domestic partner benefits increased from 14% to 59%.3 This study reviews statements issued when adopting such policies by the top 50 Fortune 500 companies and the top 50 federal government contractors. Since companies began to adopt these policies, and state and local governments began to amend their laws to prohibit sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination, arguments have been made that the requirements are costly and burdensome for private businesses. As recently as May 2011, the Tennessee legislature repealed an ordinance passed by the city of Nashville requiring city contractors to include sexual orientation and gender identity in their non-discrimination policies.4 The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce initially supported...
Words: 4464 - Pages: 18
...Diversity in Workplace Sexual Orientation Professor Antionette Dee Currie Richardson Human Resources Management Andre Marcano Florida State College Jacksonville MAN 4301, SUMMER 2014 Abstract This paper looks at the impact of being Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) in the workplace and if there are any limitations by various organizations. Most organizations often claim to value diversity, many Human Resource Systems are developed to encourage, reinforce and allow only similarities. Understanding the economic rationale for discrimination of LGBT and the implications contributes to improving Human Resource Discrimination policies that take into account workforce diversity. Employers should introduce diversity programs to educate employees and create an environment that is more hospitable to LBGT individuals and their allies. The goals and objective of the organizations training must be clearly defined and communicated. The challenge arises when forces within the organization operate to attract, select and retain an increasingly homogeneous group of people. This will suggest shifts in organizational policies, at the same time employees who are antigay or homophobic may dislike the shift in policy and begin to leave the organization. The net effect is to produce a workplace that is more accepting of change. According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) an estimated gay and lesbian population at five percent of the U.S. population over 18 years of age...
Words: 1906 - Pages: 8
...Sexual Orientation Discrimination Introduction to Human Resources Management HR 353 2/25/2011 Matthew D. Hall Instructor: Joyce Willhite Sexual Orientation Discrimination “I believe all Americans who believe in freedom, tolerance and human rights have a responsibility to oppose bigotry and prejudice based on sexual orientation (King).” This quote by Coretta Scott King is how the workplace should feel about discrimination against those who have a different sexual orientation. Sexual orientation discrimination is a rapidly growing issue in today’s workplaces. Just like sex, age, and race discrimination it is becoming one of the major issues that is present in the workforce. With the growing news media issues like gay marriage and “Don’t ask don’t tell”, this is becoming another one of the areas employers are and have been discriminating against workers. There are many state laws to discourage this type of discrimination, but as of right now there is not a federal law that protects against sexual orientation discrimination. I am sure in time there will be some form of federal protection, but only time will tell. As part of the Lesbian Gay Bi Transgender (LGBT) family, I have seen firsthand how this discrimination has and continues to negatively affected people’s lives. When people are singled out for any reason and discriminated against, it makes me think “are we really in the land of the free?” Just as Ms. King’s quote stated, if we believe in freedom...
Words: 1880 - Pages: 8
...“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has been a policy enforced in the United States Armed Forces, however the attitudes of this policy in some aspects has transferred to the business sector. Some American citizens believe the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is effective, yet others find it problematic. The policy has affected not only homosexuals wanting to serve our country, but also those attempting to find employment. Homosexuals serving in the military have been a long debated topic throughout U.S. history. As early as Revolutionary War times, the military did not exclude homosexuals from serving our country. However, they did consider sodomy a criminal offense. According to the “Article 125 of Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) prohibits all service members from engaging in sodomy. Service members found violating this article can be court-martialed and imprisoned if found guility.” (Alexander) Sodomy is defined as, “anal or oral copulation with a member of the same or opposite sex” (Sodomy). In 1778 the first solider, Lieutenant Gotthold Frederick Enslin, was discharged from the Continental Army for sodomy. The military’s main focus was on homosexual behavior, but eventually shifted to eliminate homosexual personnel all together. During this time, psychiatric evaluations were administered to prevent homosexuals from entering the military due to an alleged “medical” reason. In 1916, the Articles of War clearly forbid homosexuals from serving in the U.S. military. ...
Words: 2918 - Pages: 12
...Discrimination in the workplace against sexual preferences is common. Cracker Barrel in 1991 put in place a policy ban to veto employment to both lesbians and gays. A decade later they were faced many charges on racism for both employees and customers. LGBT individuals should be protected of their civil rights just as much as any race, gender, pregnancy, nationality, and disability. Cracker Barrel operates under traditional values and supports the notion that federal legislation is warranted to stop employment discrimination on sexual orientation. The Cracker Barrel case is something that has caused much controversy for the LGBT community. But, it has also brought the attention of this problem to federal legislation. After reading the article, we can see that federal legislation is in fact supporting this case. There are no federal laws in place at this time that actually prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation, but federal legislation does not agree with the way Cracker Barrel is discriminating against the lesbian and gay community. In this day and age there needs to be some sort of protection for the LGBT community. There are federal laws that prevent discrimination based on a person’s religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, and race. So, now there needs to be laws that prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation. Cracker Barrel should not be allowed to get away with the way they have treated their gay and lesbian employees...
Words: 1346 - Pages: 6
...Specific Diversity Issues 1. Gender Diversity in the Workplace 2. Race Diversity in the Workplace 3.Age Diversity in the Workplace 4.Religious Diversity in the Workplace 5.Employees with Disabilities in the Workplace 6. Sexual Orientation Diversity in the Workplace Gender Diversity in the Workplace The Equal Pay Act (1963) prohibits discrimination in pay based on gender. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (1964) prohibits discrimination in all employment-related decisions based on gender Earnings Gap The median earnings of women who worked full time in 2008 was 79% of men working full time. One explanation is that women are more likely to have gaps in their résumés because they are more likely to take time off to have children Race Diversity in the Workplace Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (1964) prohibits race discrimination in all employment-related decisions. Yet race discrimination still exists in organizations Age Diversity in the Workplace Despite their positive workplace behaviors, employees who are older often have to deal with age-related stereotypes at work. For example, a review of a large number of studies showed that those between 17 and 29 years of age tend to rate older employees more negatively, while younger employees were viewed as more qualified and having higher potential (age discrimination is prohibited by the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967) Religious Diversity in the Workplace In the United States, employers are prohibited...
Words: 711 - Pages: 3
...For Immediate Release Gays and Lesbians Face Persistent Workplace Discrimination and Hostility Despite Improved Policies and Attitudes in Corporate America Findings of New National Survey by Witeck-Combs Communications/Harris Interactive to be Presented at Out & Equal Workplace Summit in Orlando on Friday, September 13 Rochester, NY— September 12, 2002— Two out of five gay and lesbian adults in America’s workplaces report facing some form of hostility or harassment on the job, according to a new national study conducted by Witeck-Combs Communications and Harris Interactive®. Moreover, almost one in ten gay and lesbian adults state they were fired or dismissed unfairly from a previous job or pressured to quit a job because of their sexual orientation. In addition, when over 2,000 Americans surveyed were asked which groups of people in society they perceive experience discrimination in the workplace, such as being fired, harassed or denied a promotion, almost three quarters (73%) answered ‘gays and lesbians’ – the second highest survey response, just behind ‘older adults aged 65 and older’ (78%). Other groups mentioned as vulnerable to workplace discrimination included ‘people with disabilities’ (68%), ‘women’ (65%), ‘African Americans’ (61%), ‘Hispanic Americans’ (60%), ‘Muslims’ (60%), ‘Asian Americans’ (44%) and ‘Jews’ (39%). The far-reaching online survey was commissioned by Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, a non-profit organization that provides support and advocacy for...
Words: 2628 - Pages: 11
...Battling Discrimination at Work Discrimination at work is unfair. The reason why is because everybody is a human being and everyone should be treated equal. Companies don’t always get the best workers because they tend to pick what they think will work, when in reality if they took the time to study them they would realize how the person works and or who they really are. First of all everyone should be treated equal because everyone is the same, some people might be short, others tall, some skinny and some fat but that doesn’t matter because deep inside we are all the same. Also people should be treated equally so that everyone has the chance to do something in life. Some employers hire individuals based on their ability to get a job done. Some employers hire people based on their qualifications and their experiences concerning a particular job. However, there are employers out there that hire someone based purely on how the person looks. Whether it be based on their skin color, age, gender, or sexual orientation. Discrimination is everywhere no matter where we look, but it should stop because it is just not fair, everyone should be treated equal. Companies do not always get the best workers, they tend to go for the people who are good looking and people they think will bring more business and costumers. For example a lot of Mexican people come to this country to become successful and do something about their lives, but the system of the united states decides to block them...
Words: 1624 - Pages: 7
...Discrimination and Sexual Orientation By Mario Satterthwaite 11/26/2013 Discrimination is the prejudicial and/or distinguishing treatment of an individual based on their actual or perceived membership in a certain group or category, "in a way that is worse than the way people are usually treated. It involves the group's initial reaction or interaction, influencing the individual's actual behavior towards the group or the group leader, restricting members of one group from opportunities or privileges that are available to another group, leading to the exclusion of the individual or entities based on logical or irrational decision making. Discriminatory traditions, policies, ideas, practices, and laws exist in many countries and institutions in every part of the world, even in ones where discrimination is generally looked down upon. In some places, controversial attempts such as quotas or affirmative action have been used to benefit those believed to be current or past victims of discrimination but have sometimes been called reverse discrimination themselves. Inequality in the workplace is any form of bias or discrimination that takes place in a work environment and is established, promoted, or allowed to persist by the workplace authority. It is common for a workplace to have inequalities based on gender, race, and social class. There is usually a hierarchy that exists in the workplace in which managers, leaders and executives are paid higher wages and have more...
Words: 1373 - Pages: 6
...on the company’s impression towards clients. On the other hand, Sid is familiar with the company’s products backward and forward, he has even already found potential client, Dick Huff, for the equity product. This case explores whether a talented employee obesity’s should affect his manager’s decision whether to promote him. We consider issues of discrimination, diversity awareness, and employer intervention in matters of employees’ health. Recommendation: Bill should give Sid a chance to try the new job because: * He has the required skills for the job. * He is an internal candidate so he already knows the company very well. * He has a great personality and good social relations with his co-workers. * Bill should monitor Sid’s performance and see if the obesity problem really affects his job capabilities. 1. Why does discrimination by race, religion, appearance, sexual orientation, health, etc., occur? Discrimination in the workplace occurs for many different reasons: * First, there are psychological reasons. Indeed, because of racism, sexism, intolerance or ignorance, people who practice discrimination feel superior to those they...
Words: 1068 - Pages: 5
...Final Project Employment Discrimination Western International University The Federal and state employment discrimination laws prohibit employers from engaging in unfair employment practices, such as hiring, assigning projects to, promoting, compensating, terminating, or harassing employees based on their race, religion, sex, physical disability, national origin, or age. In addition, some states have also enacted employment discrimination laws prohibiting employers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation. Several federal laws protect employees from illegal discrimination. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbids prejudicial employment practices with regard to color, religion, sex, race, or national origin. Title VII not only applies to employers, but to employment agencies and labor organizations as well. Title VII also created the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC). Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations contains the regulations relating to the EEOC. The EEOC is responsible for implementing Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, and portions of the Rehabilitation Act. The National Labor Relations Act protects employees from discrimination related to their participation in labor unions. The Act applies to both organized unions and acts by individuals who strive to obtain rights for a group of employees. The National Labor Relations Board oversees...
Words: 2022 - Pages: 9
...Winnie (10519795) Pang Yin Chun, Sean (10520113) Fong Man Wai, YoYo (10518801) Suen Cheuk Wing Kevin (10520889) Class: CC 88-363-01-22 Submission Date: 07December 2012 Table of Contents Table contentsList of figures 1. INTRODUCTION 2.1 Abstract 2.2 Introduction 2.3 Methodology 2. DISCUSSTION 3.4 Acceptance of homosexuality in specific situations 3.5.1 Teacher 3.5.2 Friend 3.5.3 Family member 3.5 Homosexual celebrities 3.6.4 Attitudes towards homosexual celebrities 3.6.5 Influence of homosexual celebrities 3.6 Homosexuality in public 3.7.6 Education and knowledge in homosexuality 3.7.7 Anti-discrimination in educational 3.7.8 Anti-discrimination in workplace 3. CONCLUSION 4. RECOMMENDATIONS 5. WORKS CITED 6. APPENDIX | Page23456-78-999-1011-1212-131414-1516-17181920-22 | List of Figures Figure 1.1 Gender of respondentsFigure 1.2 Age group of respondentsFigure 2.1 Acceptance of homosexuality in friendsFigure 2.2 Acceptance of homosexuality in teachersFigure 2.3 Factors affect the level of acceptance of having homosexual teachersFigure 2.4 Acceptance of homosexuality in family membersFigure 2.5 Acceptance of homosexuality in celebritiesFigure 2.6 Homosexual celebrities possessing positive influence on the public's attitudeFigure 2.7 The impact of homosexual celebritiesFigure 2.8 The stand of setting...
Words: 4201 - Pages: 17