COMMISSION TO MEET APRIL 22 ON CAREGIVER BIAS

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
PRESS RELEASE
4-16-09

Panelists to Discuss Work-Life Balance in an Economic Downturn; EEOC to Issue Employer Best Practices Document

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold a public meeting at 10 a.m. (Eastern Time), Wednesday, April 22, to address best practices to avoid discrimination against workers with caregiving responsibilities. The meeting, at agency headquarters, 131 M Street, N.E., is open for public observation of the Commission’s deliberations, in accordance with the Sunshine Act.
Following the announcement of notation votes, the Commission is scheduled to hear from invited expert panelists on the importance of caregiver-friendly workplace policies in economic hard times. The panelists are:
Cynthia Calvert, Deputy Director, The Center for WorkLife Law
Karen Minatelli, Director of Work and Family Programs, National Partnership for Women and Families
Heather Boushey, Senior Economist, Center for American Progress
Jeff Norris, President, Equal Employment Advisory Council
Prior to the panel presentation, the EEOC Office of Legal Counsel will present a new document, Employer Best Practices for Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities. The new document, which will be released to the public at the meeting, will supplement formal guidance issued by the Commission in 2007 on how EEOC-enforced laws apply to employees with caregiving responsibilities.
Any matter not discussed or concluded may be carried over to a later meeting. The Commission agenda is subject to revision. You may call (202) 663-7100 (voice) or (202) 663-4074 (TTY) on the day of the Commission Meeting to confirm the above schedule.
The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Additional information about the Commission is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.