On April 29, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published updated Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace. This new guidance updates, consolidates, and replaces five agency guidance documents issued between 1987 and 1999, and serves as a single, unified resource on EEOC-enforced workplace harassment law.

The guidance addresses how harassment based on protected characteristics is defined under EEOC-enforced statutes and includes numerous examples that the Commission notes will provide more comprehensive guidance on the EEOC’s views as to the application of federal EEO laws to potential harassment scenarios.

Along with the final guidance, the EEOC issued several educational resources, including a Summary of Key Provisions document, a Frequently-Asked-Questions document for employees, and a Fact Sheet for Small Businesses.