DAA(LEGAL) - EMPLOYMENT OBJECTIVES: EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Note: This policy addresses the prohibition against discrimination in hiring and discharging employees. For legally referenced material relating to prohibited discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, see DIA(LEGAL).

Unlawful Hiring and Discharge

It is an unlawful employment practice for a district to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual because of such individual's:

1. Race, color, or national origin;
2. Religion;
3. Sex;
4. Age;
5. Disability; or
6. Genetic information [see DAB].

Federal Law

Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (Section 1981)—race. 42 U.S.C. 1981

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII)—race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. 42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.

Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA)— age, over 40. 29 U.S.C. 621 et seq.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504)—disability in programs receiving federal funds. 29 U.S.C. 794

Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)—disability. 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.

Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA)—genetic information. 42 U.S.C. 2000ff et seq.

Note: Title VII, the ADA, and GINA do not apply to employers unless the employer has 15 or more employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year. 42 U.S.C. 2000e(b); 42 U.S.C. 12111(5); 42 U.S.C. 2000ff(2)(B)

State Law

Texas Commission on Human Rights Act (TCHRA)—race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, age, and genetic information. Labor Code 21.051, .402

State policy on employment of persons with disabilities. Human Resources Code 121.003(f)

Discriminatory Practices

Title VII proscribes employment practices that are overtly discriminatory (disparate treatment) and those that are fair in form but discriminatory in practice (disparate impact). Wards Cove Packing Co. v. Antonio, 490 U.S. 642 (1989)

Disparate Treatment

Disparate treatment (intentional discrimination) occurs when members of a protected group have been denied the same employment, promotion, membership, or other employment opportunities as have been available to other employees or applicants. 29 C.F.R. 1607.11

Disparate Impact

Disparate impact occurs when an employer uses a particular employment practice that causes a disparate (disproportionate) impact on a protected group and the employer fails to demonstrate that the challenged practice is job-related and consistent with business necessity. 42 U.S.C. 2000e-2(k)(1)(A); Labor Code 21.115, .122

Limited Exception—Bona Fide Job Qualification

A district may take employment actions based on religion, sex, national origin, or age in those certain instances where religion, sex, national origin, or age is a bona fide occupational qualification. 42 U.S.C. 2000e-2(e); 29 U.S.C. 623(f); Labor Code 21.119

Prohibition on Retaliation

A district may not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because the employee or applicant has opposed any unlawful, discriminatory employment practices or participated in the investigation of any complaint related to an unlawful, discriminatory employment practice. 29 U.S.C. 623(d) (ADEA); 42 U.S.C. 2000e-3(a) (Title VII); 42 U.S.C. 12203 (ADA); Labor Code 21.055 [See DIA]

Notices

A district shall post in conspicuous places upon its premises a notice setting forth the information the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission deems appropriate to effectuate the purposes of the anti-discrimination laws. 29 U.S.C. 627; 42 U.S.C. 2000e-10

Section 504 Notice

A district that employs 15 or more persons shall take appropriate steps to notify applicants and employees, including those with impaired vision or hearing, that it does not discriminate based on disability.

The notice shall state:

1. That the district does not discriminate in employment in its programs and activities; and
2. The identity of the district's 504 coordinator.

Methods of notification may include:

1. Posting of notices;
2. Publication in newspapers and magazines;
3. Placing notices in district publications; and
4. Distributing memoranda or other written communications.

If a district publishes or uses recruitment materials containing general information that it makes available to applicants or employees, it shall include in those materials a statement of its nondiscrimination policy.

34 C.F.R. 104.8

Employment Postings

A district shall not print or publish any notice or advertisement relating to district employment that indicates any preference, limitation, specification, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, or national origin unless the characteristic is a bona fide occupational qualification. 42 U.S.C. 2000e-3(b); Labor Code 21.059

Religious Discrimination

The prohibition against discrimination based on religion includes all aspects of religious observances and practice, as well as religious belief unless a district demonstrates that it is unable to reasonably accommodate an employee's or prospective employee's religious observance or practice without undue hardship to the district's business. "Undue hardship" means more than a de minimus (minimal) cost. 42 U.S.C. 2000e(j); 29 C.F.R. 1605.2; Labor Code 21.108

Unlawful Inquiry into Religious Affiliation

A person employed or maintained to obtain or aid in obtaining positions for public school employees may not directly or indirectly ask about, orally or in writing, the religion or religious affiliation of anyone applying for employment in a public school of this state. A violation of this provision is a Class B misdemeanor. A person who violates this provision is subject to civil penalties. Education Code 22.901

Sex Discrimination

Pregnancy

The prohibition against discrimination because of sex includes discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. A district shall treat women affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions the same as other employees for all employment-related purposes, including receipt of benefits under fringe benefit programs. 42 U.S.C. 2000e(k); 29 C.F.R. 1604.10; Labor Code 21.106

Gay and Transgender

The prohibition against discrimination because of sex includes discrimination based on an individual being gay or transgender. Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, 17-1618, 2020 WL 3146686, (U.S. June 15, 2020)

Gender Stereotypes

A district may not evaluate employees by assuming or insisting that they match the stereotype associated with their group. Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, 490 U.S. 228 (1989)

Age Discrimination

The prohibition against discrimination based on age applies only to discrimination against an individual 40 years of age or older. 29 U.S.C. 631; Labor Code 21.101

Bona Fide Employee Benefit Plan

A district may take an employment action based on age under a bona fide seniority system or a bona fide employee benefit plan. However, a bona fide employee benefit plan shall not excuse the failure to hire any individual and no such benefit plan shall require or permit the involuntary retirement of any individual because of age. 29 U.S.C. 623(f); Labor Code 21.102

Disability Discrimination

A district may not discriminate against a qualified individual based on disability in job application procedures, hiring, advancement, or discharge of employees, compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. 42 U.S.C. 12112(a); 29 C.F.R. 1630.4(b); Labor Code 21.051

In addition, each district that receives assistance under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) must make positive efforts to employ, and advance in employment, qualified individuals with disabilities in programs assisted by the IDEA. 34 C.F.R. 300.177(b)

[See DIA]

Other Forms of Discrimination

Military Service

A district shall not deny initial employment, reemployment, retention in employment, promotion, or any benefit of employment based on membership in a uniformed service, performance in a uniformed service, application for uniformed service, or obligation to a uniformed service. A district shall not take adverse employment action or discriminate against any person who takes action to enforce protections afforded by the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA). 38 U.S.C. 4311 [See also DECB]

Bankruptcy Discrimination

A district may not deny employment to, terminate the employment of, or discriminate with respect to employment against, a person that is or has been a debtor under federal bankruptcy laws, solely because the bankrupt or debtor is or has been a debtor under federal bankruptcy laws; was insolvent before the commencement of a bankruptcy case or during the case but before the debtor was granted or denied a discharge; or has not paid a debt that is dischargeable in the bankruptcy case or that was discharged under the bankruptcy laws. 11 U.S.C. 525(a)

Student Loan Repayment

A district that issues a license may not take disciplinary action against a person based on the person's default on a student loan or breach of a student loan repayment contract or scholarship contract including by:

1. Denying the person's application for a license or license renewal;
2. Suspending the person's license; or
3. Taking other disciplinary action against the person.

Occupations Code 56.001, .003

Livingston ISD

DAA(LEGAL)-P

UPDATE 116

DATE ISSUED: 1/19/2021