Employment discrimination in the digital age is on the rise with some companies engaging in discriminatory practices in advertising of job opportunities by targeting job adverting to a limited online audience. In fact, a group of recent EEOC rulings found reasonable cause to conclude that more than a handful of employers have used social media targeting tools on platforms such as Facebook to prevent older applicants and women from seeing employment ads in violation of civil rights protections.
So far, the EEOC has cited four companies for age discrimination by targeting ads including Capital One, Edward Jones, Enterprise Holdings and Drivetime Automotive Group. Three other companies were cited for both age and gender discrimination including well-known brands such as Nebraska Furniture Mart, Renewal by Andersen LLC and Sand Hills Publishing. Many more complaints regarding discrimination using targeted advertising are still pending at the EEOC – it is likely the tip of the iceberg as more companies use online tools to find employees.
Employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin is prohibited under federal law Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older from employment discrimination on the basis of age. Many states also have laws prohibiting employment discrimination such as the Iowa Civil Rights Act, which makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate on the basis of age (18 or older), race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability (physical or mental), or pregnancy, or to retaliate against those who file an employment discrimination complaint.
Contact an Iowa Employment Discrimination Employee Rights Lawyer
If you have been subject to employment discrimination in hiring or promotion including sexual harassment or have suffered retaliation such as wrongful termination after reporting discrimination, it is important to seek help from an experienced Iowa employment law attorney. Contact the Davenport employment law offices of McDonald, Woodward & Carlson P.C. for immediate assistance today at 563-355-6478.