In 2017, a pregnant Walmart employee who worked as a packer at a distribution center was struggling with morning sickness and asked for a break from some of her duties. Her supervisor responded that she would need a doctor’s note. Consequently, the woman obtained a note from her doctor that said she was to avoid heavy lifting and gave it to her supervisor. In turn, her supervisor referred her to Human Resources. A Human Resources employee informed her that she could not return to work until after she gave birth because she was a “liability,” and that she would have to apply for unpaid leave to keep her job. Did Walmart discriminate against this employee?
In the United States, there are many anti-discrimination laws; yet, as the Walmart example shows, discrimination continues to be a problem in the workplace. For this Assignment, you will examine the role of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in enforcing anti-discrimination laws. You will also consider what steps you would take to ensure equity in the workplace as an I/O psychology practitioner.
To Prepare:
• Read Chapter 3 in the Aamodt text, Industrial/Organizational Psychology: An Applied Approach, and “Title VII” of The Civil Rights Act of 1964.
• Identify unlawful employment practices and anti-discrimination laws.
• Consider the role of the EEOC in addressing unlawful employment practices.