In many instances being ranked second is quite the accomplishment. But in this case it should set off alarm bells for employers.
In 2022 Tennessee ranked second in the nation in the amount of EEOC Charges filed. Tennessee workers filed 6,311 Charges of Discrimination, which is almost 89.5 charges per 100,000 residents. Only Illinois was more litigious than Tennessee, but it was a photo finish. Illinois workers filed 89.7 charges for every 100,000 residents. Retaliation was the most common claim asserted.
While an EEOC Charge is likely inevitable at some point, employers can take several proactive steps to reduce the amount of charges that are filed and defeat those that are filed. These steps include the following:
- Train your workforce on applicable laws prohibiting discrimination, harassment and retaliation and include realistic examples of what is and is not allowed under those laws. Separate training for managers and supervisors is also recommended.
- Establish clear policies prohibiting discrimination, harassment and retaliation and enforce those policies.
- Establish clear lines of communication for reporting discrimination, harassment and retaliation and other complaints about conduct in the workplace.
- Investigate all complaints received promptly and thoroughly.
- Take prompt, corrective action to address conduct that violates the company’s policies.
- Establish good rapport between Human Resources, managers and supervisors. This will lead to better cooperation and reporting of conduct which might violate the company’s policies.
- Foster a workplace that promotes teamwork and values the contributions of everyone.
Taking these steps will reduce the time and money spent in litigation and potentially increase the productivity of your workforce. And, hopefully it will result in Tennessee losing its ranking!
Tennessee Employment Law 