The DIGEST Of Equal Employment Opportunity Law

Find the latest quarterly issue of the Digest of Equal Employment Opportunity Law, April 2015.
EEOC Law

One-Stop Shop for Stats on Specific Industries: Now with Even More Information

"If you are a business owner, entrepreneur or business development specialist looking for key information about an industry in your local area, you are in luck.

The Census Bureau today launched an expanded version of its Industry Snapshots. These Snapshots permit you to select one of more than 1,000 detailed industries and pull up national and state-level data tables and county-level thematic maps for that industry..."
Industry Statistics

Mountaintop Mining: Background on Current Controversies

"Mountaintop removal mining involves removing the top of a mountain in order to recover the coal seams contained there. This practice occurs in six Appalachian states (Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Ohio). It creates an immense quantity of excess spoil (dirt and rock that previously composed the mountaintop), which is typically placed in valley fills on the sides of the former mountains, burying streams that flow through the valleys. Mountaintop mining is regulated under several laws, including the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA)..."
Mining

EIA report highlights top 100 U.S. oil and natural gas fields

"The top 100 oil fields in the United States accounted for 20.6 billion barrels of crude oil and lease condensate proved reserves, or 56% of the U.S. total in 2013. The top 100 natural gas fields accounted for 239.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas proved reserves, 68% of the U.S. total. Proved reserves are defined as estimated quantities of oil and natural gas that analysis of geologic and engineering data demonstrates with reasonable certainty are recoverable under existing economic and operating conditions..."
Oil & gas fields

Your money, your goals

"ARE YOU HAVING THE MONEY CONVERSATION?

Your Money, Your Goals is a toolkit to help front line staff and volunteers as they work with consumers to…

• Make spending decisions that can help them reach their goals
• Order and fix credit reports
• Avoid tricks and traps as they choose financial products
• Make decisions about repaying debts and taking on new debt
• Keep track of their income and bills
• Decide if they need a checking account and understand what they need to open one..."
  Your money, your goals

THE QUADRENNIAL ENERGY REVIEW

"On January 9, 2014, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum directing the administration to conduct a Quadrennial Energy Review (QER). As described in the President’s Climate Action Plan, this first-ever review focuses on energy infrastructure and identifies the threats, risks, and opportunities for U.S. energy and climate security, enabling the federal government to translate policy goals into a set of integrated actions..."  
Quadrennial energy review

2015 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

"Every year at this time, the U.S. observes National Crime Victims’ Rights week—promoting victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. Millions of Americans each year are victimized by crime—acts of terrorism, violent crime, human trafficking, hate crimes, financial fraud, child abuse, cyber crime, kidnapping, bank robbery...the list goes on. And the FBI’s Office for Victim Assistance (OVA) is responsible for ensuring that victims of crimes investigated by the Bureau are afforded the opportunity to receive the services and notifications they are entitled to and the assistance they need to cope..."
National crime victims

Five minutes to health

"In Five Minutes or Less, You Can:

1. Wash hands
   Handwashing is one of the best things we can do to keep from getting sick and avoid spreading germs to others. Learn when and how to wash your hands the recommended way.
2. Buckle up
   Seat belts reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about half. Seat belt use is the most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries in crashes. Get the facts about seat belts.
3. Protect your skin
   Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. To protect your skin use a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, seek shade, cover up and avoid indoor tanning.
4. Read food labels
   Look at nutrition labels to know what you're eating. See how much fat, cholesterol, sodium, sugars, and other ingredients are in your food.
5. Find a site near you
   Find STD testing near you to know your status.
6. Test your smoke alarm
   Test your smoke alarm once a month to make sure it works properly. Replace the batteries if needed during the time change each spring and fall.
7. Listen to a health podcast
   CDC offers many podcasts on a variety of topics. Listen to them for health and safety information.
8. Know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and strokeEvery year about 735,000 Americans have a heart attack. Learn the symptoms of a heart attack and stroke..."
   Five minutes and health
   

Living with Diabetes: Keep Your Feet Health

"If you have diabetes, take care of your feet and the rest of your body.

People with diabetes can develop serious problems with their feet that can affect how easily they can walk, and even can lead to amputation.

Many of these serious problems can be prevented by taking good care of your feet and your health. Manage your diabetes, including keeping your blood pressure, blood sugar (glucose) and cholesterol at levels your health care provider recommends..."
Diabetes and foot health

Status of Stocks 2014(fisheries)

"Overfishing and Overfished Numbers Hit All-Time Lows

As a result of the combined efforts of NOAA Fisheries, the regional fishery management councils, and all our partners, the number of stocks listed as subject to overfishing or overfished continues to decline and is at an all-time low.

• Status of Stocks 2014 Report
• Press release
• Additional details on managed stocks and past reports
• Story: Are Our Fisheries Laws Working? Just Ask About Gag Grouper

Check out the infographic below highlighting the progress we've made rebuilding stocks and ending overfishing. This progress demonstrates that our science-based approach to determining stock status and managing for sustainability is working..."

Fisheries

E-cigarette use triples among middle and high school students in just one year

"Current e-cigarette use among middle and high school students tripled from 2013 to 2014, according to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) in today’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Findings from the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey show that current e-cigarette use (use on at least 1 day in the past 30 days) among high school students increased from 4.5 percent in 2013 to 13.4 percent in 2014, rising from approximately 660,000 to 2 million students. Among middle school students, current e-cigarette use more than tripled from 1.1 percent in 2013 to 3.9 percent in 2014—an increase from approximately 120,000 to 450,000 students.

This is the first time since the survey started collecting data on e-cigarettes in 2011 that current e-cigarette use has surpassed current use of every other tobacco product overall, including conventional cigarettes. E-cigarettes were the most used tobacco product for non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic other race while cigars were the most commonly used product among non-Hispanic blacks..."
E-cigarette

The Oklahoma City Bombing: 20 Years Later

As Oklahoma City and the country prepare to mark the 20th anniversary of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing on April 19, 1995, FBI.gov looks back at the deadliest act of homegrown terrorism in the nation’s history through the eyes of special agents who were there and a survivor who continues to honor the victims by sharing her remarkable story.Oklahoma city bombing

Race and National Origin Discrimination Persist 50 Years after EEOC’s Founding

"Despite significant progress in the 50 years since the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) first opened its doors in 1965, the problems of discrimination against racial and ethnic minorities remain a reality in 21st century America, a panel of experts told the Commissioners of the EEOC at a meeting held at Miami Dade College today

This is the first public Commission meeting held outside of Washington, D.C. in more than a decade. The Commission took the step of meeting in Miami due, in part, to the multicultural and ethnically diverse population in south Florida, and the wide range of employers in the state, from agriculture, to tourism, to multinational corporations.

"Over the past 50 years, the Commission has made great strides in promoting equal employment opportunity for America's workers," said EEOC Chair Jenny R. Yang. "Never before in our nation's history has the American workplace been more diverse and inclusive than it is today. Yet, across the country, we continue to see persistent barriers to opportunity based on race, color and national origin. At the EEOC, we are working every day to remove these barriers to achieve broad and sustained compliance with our anti-discrimination laws."..."Race and national origin discrimination

Do You Have Hemophilia and an Inhibitor?

"People with hemophilia lack a protein (a clotting factor) necessary for blood to clot normally. This can lead to spontaneous bleeding as well as bleeding following injuries or surgery. The best way to treat hemophilia is to replace the missing blood clotting factor so that the blood can clot properly. This is done by infusing (giving through a needle into a vein) commercially prepared factor. However, up to 1 in 5 people with hemophilia develop an antibody (inhibitor) to the infused factor used to treat bleeding episodes. The inhibitor prevents the factor from working to stop bleeding. An inhibitor makes treatment for bleeding episodes much more difficult and expensive. Treatment costs associated with inhibitors are on average 3 – 4 times higher and can cost a patient over $1 million in a single year. In addition, people with inhibitors are at increased risk for joint disease and other complications from bleeding that lead to a reduced quality of life..."
Hemophilia and inhibitors

Social Media in the House of Representatives: Frequently Asked Questions

"Recently, the number of Member offices adopting social media as an official communications tool has increased. With the increased use of social media accounts for official representational duties, the House has adopted policies and regulations regarding the creation, content, and use of third-party social media services. This report answers several questions about the regulation of social media accounts in the House of Representatives
• How does the House define social media?
• How are social media accounts regulated in the House?
• What makes a social media account an official resource?
• Can Members use official funds for social media?
• Is some content prohibited on official social media accounts?
• Do the mass communications regulations apply to social media?..."
Social Media and House of Representatives