Feds Revise LGBT Workplace Discrimination Protection Guide

Four federal agencies have worked together to issue a revised version of Addressing Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination in Federal Civilian Employment: A Guide to Employment Rights, Protections, and Responsibilities. It has been more than ten years since the guide was revised and there have been substantial changes in the laws regarding the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) federal workers since it was last issued.

The revised guide was released in June 2015 as a result of a collaboration by the Office of Personnel Management, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Office of Special Counsel and the Merit Systems Protections Board.

It has been a long time coming, but in the last few years, laws affecting the rights of LGBT employees have changed rapidly and are expected to continue evolving at a whirlwind pace. In July 2014, President Obama issued an executive order expanding protection for federal workers to include protection from discrimination on the basis of gender identity and prohibiting federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT employees.

Companies are starting to revise their own policies, to keep up with the changing laws. Many employers and employees are not aware of protections that are already in place for LGBT employees and applicants, such as the prohibition of gender stereotyping.

If you believe that you have been the victim of prohibited sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination on-the-job or when applying for a job, please call the New Jersey employment attorneys of Lenzo & Reis, LLC, at (973) 845-9922 or email us today for a free case evaluation.