To assist small business owners in their compliance with laws enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency recently launched a Small Business Resource Center website (http://www.eeoc.gov/employers/smallbusiness/).

As background, several federal laws prohibit employment-based discrimination and apply to small employers.  For example, laws impacting employers employing 15 or more employees include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), and the Title VII laws addressing employment-based discrimination relating to race, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), and national origin. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), applicable to employers employing 20 or more employees, prohibits discriminatory practices against individuals aged 40 and over. 

The dedicated EEOC website contains a general overview of small business obligations including the posting and record keeping requirements to assist in compliance with the myriad of nondiscriminatory laws.  In addition, the website has FAQs, tips, fact sheets and videos, as well as no-cost outreach programs available.

The information contained in this article is provided as general guidance and may be affected by changes in law or regulation. This article is not intended to replace or substitute for accounting or other professional advice. Please consult a CBIZ professional. This information is provided as-is with no warranties of any kind. CBIZ shall not be liable for any damages whatsoever in connection with its use and assumes no obligation to inform the reader of any changes in laws or other factors that could affect the information contained herein.