Roane County Employers' Assocation -Status of Employment Discrimination in Tennessee

What are the top basis, issues, and industries for allegations of employment discrimination in Tennessee?  More importantly, how can your business avoid being the target of these allegations?

With more than 5,000 charges having been processed in the past year by both the Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Beverly Watts, the Executive Director of the THRC, is in a position to know the answers. 
Both the THRC and EEOC have authority to enforce laws that prohibit employment discrimination in Tennessee. As a partner with the EEOC, the Commission has the authority to investigate Tennessee Human Rights Acts claims and Title VII, ADAA, ADEA and other EEOC related laws. 
The laws apply to all types of work situations, including hiring, firing, promotions, harassment, training, wages, and benefits.
In the last three fiscal years THRC has through mediation, conciliation and settlement obtained/facilitated benefits payments to complainants totaling $1,171,856. These benefits have included non-monetary benefits that include job reinstatements, promotions, policy changes, neutral letters of reference and training.

Join Beverly L. Watts as she shares employment information from the Status of Human Rights Report in Tennessee, as well as many ways businesses have failed to avoid employment discrimination actions, and how your company can be among the best of employers! 


About our Speaker: 
Nashville native Beverly L. Watts was appointed the Executive Director of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission in July 2007. Prior to her current appointment she served as Special Advisor to the Chair at the U S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission responsible for state and local relations. She has more than 30 years of experience in civil rights enforcement and education in the public and private sector. She served as the first Executive Director of the National Fair Housing Training Academy in Washington DC. 
Beverly has served as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights; Director of Management Advisory Services for the Ralph G. Moore and Associates; Regional Director of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Agriculture; and Executive Director, Illinois Minority and Female Business Enterprise Council and as one of the first Title IX coordinators in the country during her tenure at the US Office for Civil Rights. She was an adjunct faculty member at Spalding University.  She has made presentations to numerous organizations on civil rights, diversity, and leadership at the national and international level.  

Beverly is a Past President of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies (IAOHRA) where she represented IAOHRA throughout the US, Canada and at the UN World Conference on Racism in Durban, South Africa. She currently serves as the IAOHRA Southern Region Representative and Annual Conference Planning Chair. She has served as Chair of Women Executives in State Government and currently serves as the Mission Advisor to the Cable Board and on the board of the YWCA of Middle Tennessee and is a life member of the NAACP. 

Learn more about the Tennessee Human Rights Commission at http://www.tn.gov/humanrights 

About the Roane County Employers’ Association (RCEA):
The RCEA holds eleven monthly meetings, the second Tuesday of the month, which include lunch and information about some aspect of workforce or human resources issues to keep the members up to date on the many issues facing folks doing business in Roane County today. The group also provides a good opportunity to meet and network with others in Roane County. A twelfth meeting, usually in the month of May, is held in conjunction with an annual 1/2 –day HR Legal Seminar; RCEA members receive a $15 discount to attend.
Dues are $125.00 per year, which covers the cost of the meetings and meals for one person. (Membership year is September-to-August, pro-rated by month if less than a year.)  Additionally, if joining the Roane County Chamber of Commerce at the Executive I level, RCEA membership is included with Chamber membership.
If you are not a member, please consider joining the Roane County Employers’ Association.