EEOC Issues Enforcement Guidance On National Origin Discrimination

On November 21, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") issued its Enforcement Guidance on National Origin Discrimination, which outlines the agency's guidance on the provisions of Title VII that prohibit national origin discrimination. The Guidance offers the agency's interpretation of how the law would apply in specific workplace situations, as well as practical tips (described by the EEOC as "promising practices") for employers to avoid national origin discrimination claims. The Guidance replaces the agency's 2002 compliance manual section on national origin discrimination. The EEOC also promulgated a question-and-answer publication on the Guidance and a small business fact sheet that highlights the document's major points for small businesses.