EEOC Issues New Enforcement Guidance On National Origin Discrimination

On Nov. 21, 2016, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued updated enforcement guidance on national origin discrimination for the first time in 14 years. Some may speculate whether this has anything to do with increased ethnic tensions in the wake of the presidential campaign and election results. Some also recognize that in 2015 alone, approximately 11 percent of the 89,385 private sector charges filed with the EEOC alleged national origin discrimination, claiming a wide variety of Title VII violations, including unlawful failure to hire, termination, language-related issues and harassment. Regardless of the reasoning, its issuance may have widespread implications for employers who fail to vigorously enforce their anti-discrimination and harassment policies.