Rich Rabin Quoted on Equal Employment Opportunity and Harassment Policies by PELR

Private Equity Law Report has quoted Akin Gump labor and employment partner Rich Rabin in its article “Ten Key Policies Fund Managers Should Include in Their Employee Handbooks (Part Two of Three).”

In the second installment of this three-part series, which discusses the importance of fund managers, and employers generally, implementing an employee handbook, Rabin focuses on one critical policy that employers should address in their employee handbook: discrimination and harassment in the workplace.

According to Rabin, among the policies employers should consider implementing in this area, employers should specifically include (i) a zero toleration policy for retaliation against anyone who reports harassment or discrimination, or who participates in an internal investigation into such issues; and (ii) a statement affirming that the employer “treats all employees the same regardless of gender, race, religion or other protected categories, and makes employment decisions without regard to those factors.”

Further, Rabin recommends implementing a complaint procedure as well as designating someone whom employees should report these claims, adding that employers should ensure that “[…] those designated to receive complaints are well-trained on those issues and understand their roles in the process.”

Lastly, Rabin discusses the benefits of implementing a clear and robust discrimination and harassment policy and reporting procedures, noting that, not only does it assert an affirmative defense should an employee file a hostile work environment claim, it also assures employees that discrimination and harassment issues are taken seriously in their workplace.