by The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) offers a variety of resources for employers to support them in meeting legal and regulatory equal employment opportunity (EEO) obligations. The EEOC offers both online resources and opportunities for in-person assistance.
Online resources include:
- The Small Business Resource Center: www.eeoc.gov/employers/small-business The resource center includes fact sheets, direct links to compliance tools such as posters and pamphlets, guidance on drafting policies and making employment-related decisions, and videos on hiring and on responding to an EEO discrimination charge.
- Explanations of the kinds of discrimination addressed by the EEOC and what employers are covered by the EEOC jurisdiction: www.eeoc.gov/coverage
- Direct links to federal EEO laws and regulations, detailed guidance on EEO compliance, Commission Opinion letters and other interpretations of requirements, and Memoranda of Understanding explaining how other enforcement agencies coordinate with the EEOC: www.eeoc.gov/laws-guidance-0
In-person assistance opportunities include outreach liaisons assigned to each of the regional field offices. All field offices are physically closed at this time, but EEOC employees are working and available to assist. Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin are assigned to the Chicago field office. The Outreach and Education Coordinator for employers in these states is Maria Flores (maria.flores@eeoc.gov).
The EEOC offers no-cost outreach programs to provide general information about the EEOC and employment discrimination. EEOC representatives are available on a limited basis for presentations to employers, conferences, and community organizations. The current pandemic limits immediate availability, but the Outreach and Education Coordinator can provide information on planning for future presentations and provide up-to-date information on interim resources.
Another in-person resource for employers is the EEOC Training Institute, offering on-site and virtual workshops. These training programs usually have a registration fee. The EEOC holds an annual training conference entitled Examining Conflicts in Employment Law (EXCEL). In June 2021, this conference was held virtually and included national speakers, 27 workshops, and various publications on employer best practices. Professional credits are available for the EXCEL conference. For information on the 2022 conference, check out www.eeotraining.eeoc.gov.
