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Summary of differences between federal and state regulations
Employer defined
“Employer” means a person who has one or more employees, and includes an agent of that person.
Unlawful employment practices
The unlawful employment practices and exemptions are similar to those under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the federal Guidelines on Discrimination Because of Sex.
Discrimination because of sex includes sexual harassment. Sexual harassment means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct or communication of a sexual nature under the following conditions:
- Submission to the conduct or communication is made a term or condition either explicitly or implicitly to obtain employment, public accommodations or public services, education, or housing.
- Submission to or rejection of the conduct or communication by an individual is used as a factor in decisions affecting such individual’s employment, public accommodations or public services, education, or housing.
- The conduct or communication has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s employment, public accommodations or public services, education, or housing, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment, public accommodations, public services, educational, or housing environment.
The Department of Civil Rights recommends that employers share the information in their sexual harassment brochure, and that employers develop a specific policy against sexual harassment. Talk with employees about things like appropriate dress on the job, joking around about sex, personal relationships on the job.
Federal
Contact
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Regulations
29 CFR Part 1604, Guidelines on Discrimination Because of Sex