COMMISSION TO MEET APRIL 22 ON CAREGIVER BIAS

Panelists to Discuss Work-Life Balance in an Economic Downturn;
EEOC to Issue Employer Best Practices Document

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity  Commission (EEOC) will hold a public meeting at 10 a.m. (Eastern Time), Wednesday,  April 22, to address best practices to avoid discrimination against workers  with caregiving responsibilities.  The  meeting, at agency headquarters, 131 M Street, N.E., is open for public  observation of the Commission’s deliberations, in accordance with the Sunshine  Act.

Following the  announcement of notation votes, the Commission is scheduled to hear from invited  expert panelists on the importance of caregiver-friendly workplace  policies in economic hard times.  The panelists are:

 
• Cynthia Calvert, Deputy      Director, The Center for WorkLife Law
 
• Karen Minatelli, Director of Work and      Family Programs, National Partnership for Women and Families
 
• Heather Boushey, Senior Economist,      Center for American Progress
 
• Jeff Norris, President, Equal      Employment Advisory Council

Prior to the panel presentation, the EEOC Office of Legal Counsel will  present a new document, Employer Best Practices  for Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities. The new document, which will  be released to the public at the meeting, will supplement formal guidance  issued by the Commission in 2007 on how EEOC-enforced laws apply to employees  with caregiving responsibilities.

Any matter not discussed or  concluded may be carried over to a later meeting.  The Commission agenda is subject to  revision.  You may call (202) 663-7100  (voice) or (202) 663-4074 (TTY) on the day of the Commission Meeting to confirm  the above schedule.

The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment  discrimination. Additional information about the Commission is available on its  web site at www.eeoc.gov.