This document discusses diversity, tolerance, and respect in the workplace. It defines diversity and explains that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) makes it illegal to discriminate in hiring, firing, promotion, testing, and benefits based on factors such as race or gender. The document advises workers who experience discrimination to file a complaint with human resources, their state workforce agency, or the EEOC. It also warns that fellow employees can be sued for harassment and discrimination and encourages attending diversity training.

1. Diversity, Tolerance & Respect Section 11.3: The Diverse & Non-Hostile Workplace Taking Charge: Chapter 11 Copyright 2010 TSTC Publishing

2. Diversity Definition of diversity: 1. the state or fact of being diverse; difference, unlikeness. 2. variety; multiformity. 3. a point of difference Copyright 2010 TSTC Publishing

3. EEOC Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Illegal to discriminate in areas such as: Hiring and firing Promotion Testing Benefits Copyright 2010 TSTC Publishing

4. What Should I Do? Document Begin your ladder of escalation File a formal complaint with your human resources department Copyright 2010 TSTC Publishing

5. What Should I Do? (cont.) Contact your state’s workforce agency Consult an attorney File a claim with the EEOC Copyright 2010 TSTC Publishing

6. Avoid Harassing Others Fellow employees can be sued for discrimination and harassment Be increasingly aware of the consequences of a hostile workplace Make sure to attend workplace diversity and/or sexual harassment training offered by your employer Copyright 2010 TSTC Publishing

7. Avoiding Harassment Review the “Watch Your Own Words” tips in Section 11.2 Respect other people’s personal space Censor your emails and keep private mail off of your company computer Copyright 2010 TSTC Publishing

8. Tying It Up Look for similarities between people who seem different than you Variety keeps life interesting Copyright 2010 TSTC Publishing

9. Further Reflection In your previous jobs, have you witnessed discrimination? What was the situation? Have you ever discriminated against someone? Do you think of telling jokes as possible discrimination? Copyright 2010 TSTC Publishing

10. Additional Resources Texas Workforce Commission http://ww.twc.state.tx.us/ U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission http://www.eeoc.gov/ Hatecrime.org http://www.hatecrime.org/ Copyright 2010 TSTC Publishing