For Immediate Release: Monday, February 14, 2011
Contact: Phoebe Silag or Karen Conner, news@epi.org 202-775-8810

Commission to Meet Feb. 16 at Agency Headquarters

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, February 16, at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern Time), at agency headquarters, 131 M Street, N.E. In accordance with the Sunshine Act, the meeting is open for public observation of the Commission’s deliberations.

In order to examine the emerging practice by employers of posting job advertisements that say unemployed applicants will not be considered, the Commission will hear from invited panelists to explore the potential impact on workers. The meeting agenda includes:

Panel 1: U.S. Department of Labor’s Latest Unemployment Data

· William E. Spriggs, Assistant Secretary for Policy, U.S. Department of Labor

Panel 2: Unemployment Status Screening

· Christine Owens, executive director, National Employment Law Project (NELP)

· Fernan R. Cepero, vice president for human resources, SHRM, The YMCA of Greater Rochester

· Helen Norton, professor, University of Colorado Law School

Panel 3: Impact of Unemployed Persons

· Algernon Austin, director of the race, ethnicity, and the economy program, Economic Policy Institute

· Fatima Goss Graves, vice president for education and employment, National Women’s Law Center

· Joyce Bender, CEO, Bender Consulting Services

A brief question-and-answer session with EEOC Commissioners will follow each panel discussion.

Seating is limited and it is suggested that visitors arrive 30 minutes before the meeting in order to be processed through security and escorted to the meeting room.  

The Commission agenda is subject to revision. Additional information about the hearing, when available, will be posted at http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/meetings/index.cfm.

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