People who work in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, as well as people elsewhere, deserve equal treatment on the job. Sometimes that equality extends to postings about job openings, too. Keep reading to learn why it may be a good idea to work with a White Bear Lake business lawyer to make sure you’re not unknowingly encouraging discrimination at work.
Meet with a Lawyer to Review Your Policies
Some employers find themselves under suspicion for discrimination for something that seems relatively harmless, but was taken out of context. For example, maybe an employee thinks a statement in your workplace handbook was discriminatory. Ideally, you’d have a chance to clear up any misunderstandings, but that’s not always the case.
Avoid that scenario altogether by using guidance from a White Bear Lake business lawyer and carefully going through each line of your handbook. If some are found that could be interpreted as saying something discriminatory, change them so they use less obscure language.
Help Employees Feel Comfortable About Reporting Issues at the Business
Workplace discrimination can flourish if people don’t feel able to report related problems and know they’ll be taken seriously. You may find it worthwhile to hang posters reminding people of what workplace discrimination is and how to report it.
Even more importantly, strive to create a culture around the workplace that makes people willing to come forward and speak up rather than keeping things under wraps. Your White Bear Lake business lawyer can suggest ways to present the topic of workplace discrimination to employees during informal office meetings.
Ask a Lawyer to Review Your Job Postings
If you’re at the point where it’s time to hire new employees, it’s smart to meet with a White Bear Lake business lawyer before any of the respective job postings go public. Be very clear about the requirements for each position, but don’t cross the line and write things that could suggest you’re discriminating against a person because of something like age, gender, or race. You can also add a line of text at the end of your advertisements that mentions how you’re an equal opportunity employer.
These are not the only ways an attorney can help your workplace stay free of discrimination, but they’re very effective to let you get off to a good start.
