Employment Law Terms and Definitions

Affirmative Action Positive action to accomplish the purpose of a program designed to increase the employment opportunities of certain groups. It may involve goals, timetables, or specifically outlined steps to be undertaken to assure that objectives are reached. Accessible Easy to approach, enter, operate, participate in, or use safely, independently and with dignity by a person with a disability (i.e., site, facility, work environment, service or program). Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §2000e, et seq., prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, national origin and religion. It also is unlawful under the Act for an employer to take retaliatory action against any individual for opposing employment practices made unlawful by Title VII or for filing a discrimination charge or for testifying or assisting or participating in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under Title VII. Curb Cut Also called a curb ramp, it is a depression built into the curb of a sidewalk to permit passage by a wheelchair. The incline should not exceed a gradient of 1:12 and the flat surface width should be no less than 4 feet wide. Undue Hardship With respect to the provision of an accommodation, significant difficulty or expense incurred by a covered entity, when considered in light of certain factors. These factors include the nature and cost of the accommodation in relation to the size, resources, nature, and structure of the employer's operation. Equal Employment Opportunity Nondiscrimination in hiring, firing, compensation, promotion, recruitment, training, and other terms and conditions of employment regardless of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin or disability. Master agreements A contract between the employer and the exclusive bargaining representative. For collective bargaining, the employer is represented by the governor or the governor's designee. The LRO will negotiate contracts with each union that represents more than 500 employees. Executive Order 11246 Executive Order 11246, as amended, prohibits discrimination in employment by contractors with the federal government on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, or national origin. The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) of the U.S. Department of Labor is the federal agency responsible for investigating individual charges of discrimination under Executive Order 11246. Affirmative Action Proactive action to accomplish the purposes of a program which is designed to increase the employment opportunities of certain groups, which may involve goals, timetables, or specifically outlined steps to be undertaken to assure that objectives are reached. Readily Achievable Easily accomplishable and able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense. In determining whether an action is readily achievable, factors to be considered include nature and cost of the action, overall financial resources and the effect on expenses and resources, legitimate safety requirements, impact on the operation of a site and, if applicable, overall financial resources, size and type of operation of any parent corporation or entity.

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	Did You Know?
	About at will employment In certain states, employers do not have the right to terminate employees "at will" if the termination violates public policy, an implied employment contract, or an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.