In recent months, we have seen several important legal rulings impacting the workplace rights of the LGBTQ community. Between the various court decisions, state and local law and guidance, states attempting to preempt local laws impacting LBGTQ rights, religious freedom laws, and bathroom laws, the legal landscape seems to be a moving target. In the near future, it may fall upon the U.S. Supreme Court to determine whether Title VII’s prohibition of discrimination based on “sex” includes discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity. In the meantime, almost half of the states and many more cities already specifically prohibit discrimination and harassment based on these factors.
Beyond these threshold legal questions, employers face challenges associated with providing a respectful working environment in which all employees feel comfortable, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. In addition to employers’ fulfilling their legal obligations, they must decide what kinds of policies and practices are appropriate in order to reflect the values of the organization.
This program, presented by Susan Gross Sholinsky and Amanda M. Gómez of Epstein Becker Green, will update attendees on the current state of the law, including federal, state, and local law, and offer practical guidance for developing workplace policies and best practices most suitable to your company’s needs and objectives. The program will examine how to create, implement, and enforce comprehensive and inclusive nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policies and procedures; educate managers, supervisors, and employees on proper protocols, employee rights, and the meaning of various terms; obtain manager buy-in to the company’s objectives, while simultaneously allaying employee concerns; and develop LGBTQ-supportive polices, including those pertaining to non-discrimination, privacy, and confidentiality.
Learning Objectives:
SUSAN GROSS SHOLINSKY is a Member of Epstein Becker Green in the Employment, Labor & Workforce Management practice. She counsels clients on a variety of matters, in a practical and straightforward manner, with an eye toward reducing the possibility of employment-related claims.
Ms. Sholinsky:
In 2019, Ms. Sholinsky was recommended by The Legal 500 United States in the area of Workplace and Employment Counseling.
Ms. Sholinsky serves on the adjunct faculty of the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, where she teaches courses concerning human resources and the law. She also frequently speaks at events and webinars on employment law topics and authors numerous publications on employment law issues. Ms. Sholinsky is Vice Chair of the firm’s National Employment, Labor & Workforce Management Steering Committee and Vice Chair of the firm’s Diversity & Professional Development Committee. She is also a member of the firm's Finance Committee and the Executive Committee of the firm's Women's Initiative. Ms. Sholinsky is also comanager and lefty second baseman on the firm's softball team, the EBG Bees.
Amanda M. Gómez is a Law Clerk – Admission Pending – in the Employment, Labor & Workforce Management practice, in the New York office of Epstein Becker Green. She will be focusing her practice on wage and hour issues and the preparation of employment policies and procedures as well as employee handbooks and manuals.
Ms. Gómez received her J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she was the Executive Submissions Editor of the Harvard Journal of Law & Gender. While attending Harvard Law, Ms. Gómez served as a Legal Intern at an organization that provides direct legal representation to asylum seekers, detainees, undocumented immigrants, and other individuals who are at an increased risk of deportation.
wow! just, wow... excellent presentation. timely & thought provoking.
Interesting course from 2018 in light of June 2020 decision by Supreme Court Justice Gorsuch in the Bostock case on Title VII.
Program was presented well.
Best presentation and materials I have watched so far !
Good presentation
Great CLE! Very relevant for those of us who work in-house!
More like this, please!
Good job!
Interesting and timely topics.
The program was very informative.
Helpful
well done
Extrememely informatve
This is an area of the law I know little about, and found it an informative overview.
Great
Very good