Fundamentals of Human Resource Management, 5/e

Equal Employment Opportunity Laws

Learning Objective 1

1. Summarize the basic equal opportunity laws and how each impacts HR functions such as recruitment and selection.

Abercrombie & Fitch rescinded its “look policy” after a Muslim applicant won a judgment from the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court held that A&F should have accommodated her for religious reasons by letting her wear her headscarf. 2

Hardly a day goes by without equal opportunity lawsuits like this. 3 One survey of corporate general counsels found that such lawsuits were their biggest litigation fears. 4 Performing supervisory tasks like hiring and appraising employees without understanding these laws is fraught with peril. We’ll look at what managers should know about these laws ...