The Dotted Line: How Contractors Can Avoid Becoming EEOC’s Next Target

Construction Dive

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the nation’s top enforcer of discrimination laws in the workplace, recently put construction on notice by calling out the industry by name in its proposed Strategic Enforcement Plan.

While it hasn’t been formally adopted yet — the politics of an unfilled commissioner’s seat have stalled it — observers say the document, which acts as the EEOC’s five-year operating roadmap, has already set the tone and course of enforcement at the agency.

That certainly appears to be the case, given a string of EEOC lawsuits and settlements with construction firms since last May, when it held an exploratory hearing to investigate reports of discrimination and harassment in the sector. A recent JD Supra post highlighted at least eight construction-related cases the agency has pursued since that time, which have resulted in companies being on the hook for nearly $3 million combined in damages and settlement charges.

This feature is a part of Construction Dive's “The Dotted Line” series, which takes an in-depth look at the complex legal landscape of the construction industry. Click here to read this story on Construction Dive. To view the entire series, click here.