Feds targeting discrimination in workplace

Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2001 | 10:35 a.m.

Because it has seen more blatant violations of workplace laws here than in neighboring states, the federal agency that combats workplace discrimination is stepping up its presence in Las Vegas.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which investigates discrimination charges, is sending high-level officials to Nevada more often than in the past.

The EEOC investigates charges of discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, gender, age or disability.

Nevada has gained the interest of the federal agency in recent months because of the types of violations being reported, officials said.

"We're seeing particularly blatant cases in Nevada that you really don't see in places like California, where most employers know better," EEOC regional attorney Anna Park said. "In Nevada, it seems like employers have a blatant disregard for what's right."

The attorney said two Nevada cases have gone to court in recent months, one involving a Las Vegas engineering firm that allegedly harassed and fired a 53-year-old woman because of her age, and another involving a Reno casino where two women alleged they were fired after spurning sexual advances from their bosses.

Fast growth, little enforcement presence, a sharp rise in immigrant workers -- particularly Hispanics -- and lack of knowledge about worker rights together make Nevada a state where violations tend to be more blatant and on the rise, Park said.

"These things have been adding up. Now the day has come where employers need to know that the rules must be followed," she said.

Santos Albarran, whose job it is to see where the agency needs to put more attention, was in Las Vegas last week, visiting a nonprofit agency that helps workers and planning a March 2002 seminar that may bring an EEOC commissioner to address Las Vegas workers for the first time.

"We think Las Vegas is underserved by our agency, and we're seeing a lot of discrimination taking place," said Albarran.

During the official's visit, the Interfaith Council for Worker Justice, a local group that has referred 10 cases to the EEOC this year, raised the idea of opening an office of the federal agency in Las Vegas during Albarran's visit.

"We think there's a need for a federal agency here, especially since they have a power to litigate that the state agency for workplace discrimination doesn't," said council director Mayra Ocampo.

The Nevada Equal Rights Commission, the state agency, is not authorized to sue for punitive damages on behalf of workers who have been victims of discrimination.

"Plus, the EEOC, being a national agency, can choose cases for the precedence they might set or that involve the sorts of violations that might be occurring anywhere else in the nation," said Carlos D. Romo, assistant administrator for the commission.

Romo said if the federal and state agencies end up working together in Las Vegas, it could be seen as a reflection of how much the city has grown in recent years.

"You really only see both agencies operating together in major metropolitan areas like San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego," said Romo.

EEOC Commissioner Paul Steven Miller, who may visit Las Vegas in March, said opening an office in Las Vegas would require an evaluation of the area's need.

"Then, if local organizations or Nevada's congressional delegation show that this need is not being met, we'd certainly pay attention," said Miller, who is one of five commissioners serving with the EEOC.

Miller said a newly opened EEOC office in Puerto Rico was the first in the past eight to 10 years, and that the commission's budget would also influence a decision about opening an office in Las Vegas.

Regardless of whether an office is opened or not, the EEOC plans a greater presence in Las Vegas, officials said.

"We will be coming more often both to try and prevent discrimination through education to employers and to investigate cases where litigation seems necessary," Albarran said.

EEOC has handled about 85 Las Vegas cases in each of the past three years, most of which involved race and gender discrimination.

"But we've seen that the more of a presence we have in an area, the more workers come forth with violations. This happened with farm workers in California, where more outreach led to more cases," said Albarran.

"We want employers in Las Vegas to look at us and say, 'We better clean up our act.' And if not, we are an enforcement agency, and we will litigate."