Prevent the Top Types of Workplace Discrimination at Your Inn

Discrimination has become a growing concern as environmental, social and governance (ESG) and diversity, equity and inclusion (DE &I) awareness continues to increase. Discriminative missteps can have major negative legal impacts on your inn business and leadership. These matters can be direct or indirect and can happen anywhere, anytime to anyone. While discrimination is a highly complex and challenging subject, understanding the top types of discrimination can help protect you from potential claims.

Disability Discrimination

Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training and other employment terms, conditions and privileges. A protected ADA individual:

• Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities
• Has a record of such an impairment
• Is perceived by others as having such an impairment

Employers are required to make a reasonable accommodation for a qualified applicant or employee with a known disability. Exceptions can be made if the accommodation would impose an “undue hardship” on the employer’s business operations. Undue hardship is an action requiring significant difficulty or expense in light of an employer’s size, financial resources, and operational nature and structure. Accommodations cannot lower an employer’s quality or production standards.

Reasonable accommodation may include but is not limited to:

• Making existing employee facilities readily accessible and usable by persons with disabilities
• Job restructuring
• Modifying work schedules
• Reassigning to a vacant position
• Acquiring or modifying equipment or devices
• Adjusting or modifying examinations, training materials or policies

Age Discrimination

A recent Hiscox study found 21% of employees report experiencing workplace age discrimination. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employees over the age of 55 will make up nearly 25% of the labor force by 2024. Workplace age discrimination, or ageism, involves unfavorable treatment of an applicant or employee based on age. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) forbids age discrimination against people 40 or over in all employment aspects, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoffs, training and benefits.

Such discrimination can influence deflated staff morale, a tarnished organizational reputation and increasing EPL claims. It is important to review your organization’s employment practices and foster a workplace culture rejecting ageism.

Religious Discrimination

Religious workplace discrimination involves unfavorable treatment due to religious beliefs. Federal law protects anyone who has sincerely held religious, ethical or moral beliefs and forbids discrimination in any aspect of employment (e.g., hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, benefits). Religious discrimination also involves a person who is married to or associated with an individual of a particular religion.

Observances or practices that employers should be aware of include:

• Worship services
• Prayer
• Religious attire or symbols
• Dietary restrictions
• Nonparticipation in various activities

Pregnancy Discrimination

According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), women account for over 50% of the nation’s workforce. While there are various types of occupational gender-based discrimination, pregnancy is the most prevalent. In fact, the ACS reported that nearly one-third (32%) of all working women are mothers.

Pregnancy discrimination is an unfavorable treatment of female job applicants or employees based on pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition. Such discrimination can bring multiple consequences for employers, including reputational damage, greater turnover rates and reduced overall workplace morale. Both federal and state-specific legislation prohibit pregnancy discrimination and pose liabilities (e.g., regulatory fines, costly lawsuits) for noncompliant employers.

Discrimination Risk Prevention at Your Inn

• Examine your hiring practices. Interviewers should be trained to avoid discriminatory assumptions. Include more diversity within interview panels.
• Eliminate discriminatory-related information (e.g., date of birth, religious orientation) from applications.
• Implement consistent hiring practices. Keep questions limited to only those related to the position. Ensure all candidates are asked identical questions
• Utilize workforce training to educate employees about acceptance.
• Evaluate your organizational culture, practices and policies to eliminate outdated assumptions and foster an accepting culture.
• Address discrimination in employment policies. A zero-tolerance stance will deter discrimination and help employees feel more secure at work.
• Provide training to educate employees on illegal behaviors and reporting procedures for any discrimination incident.
• Establish objective promotional criteria. Written evaluation measures can reduce bias or discrimination.
• Communicate to employees the importance of refraining from discriminatory harassment, insults or jokes.
• Carefully document disciplinary or performance-related actions and share them with all affected employees.
• Respond to claims immediately. Your investigations should include interviews with all parties involved and a review of relevant evidence.
• Provide a positive experience for your employees.

Non-Discrimination Practices at Your Inn

The best prevention measure for workplace-related discrimination is to provide routine discrimination education and training for your employees. Consider securing employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) to protect your inn from discrimination claims. This protection covers wrongful acts arising from the employment process, including discrimination. For more business safety guidance and innkeeper insurance solutions, connect with a member of our team.