EEOC prioritizing bias caused by Israel-Hamas war

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) General Counsel Karla Gilbride stated recently in public remarks that the agency is working to protect employees from workplace bias created by the Israel-Hamas war.

According to Gilbride, the EEOC has prioritized the investigation of religious and national origin discrimination as the agency has been alerted there have been instances of workplace mistreatment against Jewish, Muslim and Arab workers as a result of the Gaza war. According to Gilbride, the agency is making this a priority “both in terms of analyzing the data and making sure people receive interviews and have their charges investigated as quickly as possible.” The agency’s focus on the issue aligns with its recently adopted strategic enforcement plan, which provides that addressing discrimination that arises in response to local, national, or global events is a priority.

Final PWFA regulations under review

The EEOC’s final Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) regulations have been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to its review. The PWFA directed the EEOC to finalize the regulations by December 29, 2023.

The agency received more than 100,000 comments on the proposed regulations, and its extension of protection to having or not having abortion was a major issue. The Act protects workers who have limitations arising out of pregnancy or related medical conditions to ensure they receive appropriate accommodation on the job.