EEOC issues caregiver-discrimination guidance

WASHINGTON--The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Wednesday issued guidance on how antidiscrimination laws apply to working parents and other caregivers.

The guidance was issued as a "proactive measure" to address emerging discrimination trends, the Washington-based EEOC said in a statement.

The guidance--titled "Unlawful Disparate Treatment of Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities"--offers examples of what constitutes discrimination against caregivers under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

"Changing workplace demographics, including women's increased participation in the labor force, have created the potential for greater discrimination against working parents and others with caregiving responsibilities," the EEOC statement said.

The guidance is available at www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/caregiving.html.