Labor News & Commentary April 30, 2024 the Fight for $15 campaign rebrands as Fight for a Union & more

[Omaha Steve]

https://onlabor.org/april-30-2024/

By Sunah Chang

Sunah Chang is a student at Harvard Law School.

In today’s news and commentary: the EEOC finalizes its guidance on workplace harassment, unionized hotel workers prepare for May Day rallies, and the Fight for $15 campaign rebrands as Fight for a Union.

Yesterday, the EEOC issued its finalized guidance on preventing harassment in the workplace. This guidance marks the first time since 1999 that the EEOC has updated its anti-harassment guidelines for employers. Notably, in light of the Supreme Court’s 2020 decision in Bostock, the new guidance encompasses protections for LGBTQ+ workers, including protecting the rights of employees to access a bathroom consistent with their gender identity and protecting employees from repeated and intentional misgendering. The guidance also states that workplace harassment based on an employee’s reproductive health-related decisions is prohibited under Title VII. Furthermore, the guidance addresses the growth of virtual work environments and clarifies how harassment can manifest in remote workplaces.

The final guidance was approved by EEOC commissioners by a 3-2 vote along party lines. Conservatives, including Republican EEOC Commissioner Andrea Lucas, have spoken out against the guidance as impinging on the freedom of speech and religion of employees and employers. Accordingly, the guidance is expected to face legal challenges, particularly based on religious discrimination claims.

FULL story at link above.