EPS-RealSolutions Employment Practices Solutions

THE NEXT BEST THING TO BEING THERE: VIRTUAL INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COVID ERA by Employment Practices Solutions

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs and activities by institutions that receive federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education, and sexual misconduct may constitute discrimination prohibited by Title IX. When a school knows or reasonably should know of any incident of sexual misconduct, personnel must take immediate steps to understand what occurred (i.e., whether a hostile environment based on sex exists), and respond appropriately. We explore all the elements of Title IX compliance and how organizations should prepare to investigate complaints of misconduct including how to select the appropriate investigator.

Diversity has been a hot topic for quite some time. The notion of inclusion has surfaced more recently – and often in the same breath as diversity. We know, for example, that companies in the top quartile for gender, racial, and ethnic diversity are more likely to have financial returns above their national industry median. But, we are also beginning to understand that the benefits of diversity are only truly realized when it’s partnered with inclusion – the creation of an organizational culture where all individuals are respected and appreciated as valuable members of their communities. In this podcast, we examine the practical actions that employers and employees can take to make progress on the journey from diversity to inclusion.

Allegations surface, headlines ensue and employers and employees grapple with how to prevent harassment and moreover, how to build respectful workplaces. Employees wonder about their own behavior and employers are examining their efforts around sexual harassment prevention. During this podcast, we examine the all-important role of the bystander.

This cultural moment around sexual harassment has made many employees and employers alike think about sexual harassment differently and more deeply. We provide answers to pressing questions from our social media followers and consultants around sexual harassment prevention.

This podcast is part two of our two-part series on pitfalls that rear their heads in some of the most important work that employment law and human resources professionals do in their roles - training and investigations. We’re tackling the pitfalls associated with workplace complaint investigations.