Camille Olson Quoted in Human Resource Executive "Caregivers Unite"

Camille Olson was quoted in the article “Caregivers Unite,” published June 16, 2008 by Human Resource Executive online. The article examines the growing number of workers filing lawsuits against organizations that they say punish them for attending to family and caregiving responsibilities. As a result of the increased litigation, the EEOC issued the guidance document, Unlawful Disparate Treatment of Workers with Responsibilities.

Camille remarked, “The EEOC really affirmed what employers and managers should already know, that you cannot stereotype people, not even in a benevolent way, in terms of what they will or won’t want to do in a workplace based on them being a caregiver.” The issue of disparate treatment of caregivers is not always clear. According to Camille, “That is where the debate is being waged in the courtroom.”

Additionally, Camille explained that it is important… for a company to have transparent leave and promotion policies that are, for example, posted on the company website. She noted that the way those policies are applied to each individual should be documented and that employees should understand how they get to an upper promotion track. She concluded “A lot of companies are doing a great job identifying high achievers, making sure they have well-rounded portfolios. Upper management should literally have conversations with its managers, not about what a particular law requires, but how they should view employees, how you promote employees, looking at the actual protocol.”