Studies indicate that the financial performance of companies with a diverse workforce is above average for their industries. The McKinsey and Company study noted in the chapter found that companies featuring great diversity in their workforces typically enjoyed earnings between 15 and 35 percent greater than their respective US industry medians.
The percentage of women in leadership positions remains much lower than for men, generally less than 20 percent of positions. The benefits of greater gender diversity in the workforce include improved internal relationships and employee morale and more effective internal and external communication. Studies have also shown that companies in the top 25 percent for executive and/or board diversity had returns on equity more than 50 percent higher than those companies that ranked in the lowest 25 percent.
False. In both cases, employers must be willing to make a reasonable accommodation for the employee.
The ADA’s main requirement is that employers make reasonable accommodations for applicants and workers with disabilities to allow them to perform the essential functions of the job.
One example of religious apparel that is protected under Title VII is Muslim women’s head scarves, which, in most situations, they may wear.
False. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act does not address sexual orientation and federal law does not prohibit discrimination based on this characteristic.
Yes. Approximately half of U.S. states have local laws that provide protection even though federal law does not; however, some of those states prohibit sexual orientation discrimination only in public workplaces, not private ones.
Yes. The law does not mandate or prohibit extending benefits to LGBTQ partners; it is up to the company.
Independent contractors are not covered by workers’ compensation or unemployment insurance or health insurance coverage.
Yes. A state can set its own minimum wage higher than the federal level. Currently, twenty-nine states do so.
False. Alternatives include the use of patient-drug databases, virtual drug trials, computer models and simulations, noninvasive imaging techniques, and microdosing.
U.S. companies lose sales abroad because they cannot sell products that were tested on animals in the European Union markets.