Thursday, March 10, 2011

EEOC to review “significant regulations”; do you smell trouble?

According to the EEOC, it is “beginning a new, periodic retrospective review of its existing significant regulations to determine whether any such regulations should be modified, streamlined, expanded, or repealed, to make the EEOC’s regulatory program more effective and/or less burdensome in achieving its regulatory objectives.” Huh? Cutting through the government-speak, I think the EEOC is trying to say that it is looking to rewrite its regulations. Given the current political tenor of this agency, does this concern you? It certainly concerns me.

Do you have suggestions for the EEOC on why a regulation should be modified, streamlined, expanded, or repealed; data on the costs and benefits of a regulation; or how the EEOC could better achieve a regulation’s objective? If so, I suggest you email them to:

Public.Comments.RegulatoryReview@eeoc.gov

You can be sure that 1) employee advocates will be submitting their thoughts, and 2) the agency has its own agenda to further. Employers, make your voice heard in what may be a significant re-writing of the EEOC’s interpretation of Title VII, the ADEA, and other civil rights laws.


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