Mgt434 Essay

MGT 434 Week Two

Civil Rights Laws


INTRODUCTION
This week provides the opportunity to explore the topic of prevention of illegal workplace discrimination. This is one of the most significant areas in the study of employment law, as it is one of the hottest issues in the workplace. It should be noted that all discrimination is not illegal. Anytime a workplace decision is made between two individuals, discrimination has occurred. Obviously, not all such decisions are illegal. Only those that have been made illegal by legislative enactment are illegal. The primary law that needs to be addressed comes from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 1991, (42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000e et.seq.) and the amendments thereto that have added subsequent classes of employees to the list of those to be protected. The resulting protected classes are race, religion, gender (including sexual harassment), color, national origin, age, and pregnancy. Related laws in the workplace will be examined in the areas of affirmative action, equal pay, and immigration.
The intent of this week will not only be to understand the scope and protections of these laws, but also the manner in which they are enforced from a practical perspective. The "thrust" will be to help students know how to apply these laws in the workplace in a manner that will help assure a fair and productive work environment.

Week in Relation to the Course
The course intends to provide an academic and practical understanding of how the workplace is protected by law, and how the laws intend to assure that the employment environment is thereby made as fair and productive as possible. This week's materials fit within that umbrella by addressing the issue of preventing illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Equitable employment decisions that provide fair opportunity for individuals to acquire jobs and be paid, evaluated, and promoted, etc., free from inappropriate discrimination is a major component of...