The U. S. Department of Labor last week announced that it was revisiting its anti-harassment and equal-employment-opportunity policies, which included extending them to cover gender identity.
Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis announced the policy change last Thursday as part of a mandatory annual review of the department’s nondiscrimination policy.
Sexual orientation was already included in the policies, and the new statement will protect against discrimination based on sex — into which gender identity and pregnancy are incorporated.
The equal-opportunity policy extends to hiring, disciplinary action and promotion for department employees.
In a statement issued last week, Solis said the changes will help the department to operate with the most capable and professional personnel.
“I am expressing my personal commitment to ensure that the U.S. Department of Labor is a model workplace, free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, which fosters a work environment that fully utilizes the capabilities of every employee,” Solis said. “It is my goal that we achieve and maintain a high-quality, diverse workforce at all organizational levels throughout the department.”
Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, hailed the decision, saying it was long overdue.
“With this change, the federal government is doing what smart employers in the private sector have been doing for years,” Carey said in a statement. “They know that in order to attract the best talent, they need to show that diversity is important to their companies.”
The new policy statement has already been distributed to department employees.
Last year, out director of the Office of Personnel Management John Berry announced gender identity would be included on the list of classes protected from job discrimination in federal hiring.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].