June 15 Tip of the Week

The Supreme Court ruled yesterday, June 15th, that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of protected characteristics like race, national origin, religion and sex, also provides employment protections to individuals on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.  While many states had already expanded their list of protected class characteristics to include sexual orientation and gender identity, the Supreme Court’s decision will be applicable nationwide.  To prepare, employers should consider updating their employee handbooks to ensure the two new protected class characteristics are added to the company’s equal employment clauses, train management teams on the importance of preventing discrimination on the basis of sex, in all its forms, and consult with attorneys regarding any questions or complaints about discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.