Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Senate Working to End Workplace Discrimination
On Monday night, the Senate moved one step further towards outlawing workplace discrimination against homosexuals. Legislation of this sort would lead employers to only judge job applicants on their professional abilities and their job credentials, not on a person's sexual orientation. However, this proposed legislation, The Employment Nondiscrimination Act, completely leaves it wide open for religiously-affiliated employers do discriminate against people in jobs that have no religious function. Also, I think it's kind of ridiculous that at the end of the article, Boehner says that workplace fairness would cost American jobs. I think that is a ridiculous claim. Aside from that though, I think this is a good article that is very related to many of the large social issues in society today.
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I think it's really sad how something so basic - being judged at your job for how you do the job - is being denied to a lot of people still today. I think it's even sadder that a few individuals won't support a bill ending this because of what I'm assuming is just a problem with who the people the bill helping are. But still really great the bill is even a thing! Also really surprised by how biased this article was; I enjoyed it though.
ReplyDeleteIt is ridiculous that anyone would oppose a bill that fights to cut down on workplace discrimination, although it is encouraging to hear that the senate will be discussing this bill despite the opposition. This bill seems past-due, but at least some progress is being made. In 50 years or so I think that we (as a country) will look back at the discrimination against gays the same way we look back at segregation today.
ReplyDeleteIt is crazy to think about how much opposition there is to a bill that simply works to end discrimination in the workplace and make sure that people get a job based on their abilities and credentials. I think what makes this bill so controversial is the inclusion of outlawing discrimination by sexual orientation. The tea party wing of the Republican Party have strong views on this subject and unfortunately they are able to scare the rest of their party into voting with them. If more Republicans stop following the tea party agenda I think we will start to see a lot more progress on bills such as this one.
ReplyDeleteBoehner's comment about "frivolous litigation" and the "cost to American jobs," at least to me, demonstrates an unwillingness to cooperate with democrats, and even republicans, who hold less traditionally conservative views. Boehner is hiding behind phrases like "frivolous litigation" because it makes him sound legitimate. Americans will identify with the issue of losing "American jobs, so he used that to his advantage, even though it has nothing to do with the issue at hand.
ReplyDeleteI do recognize that this is a biased article, particularly beecause it happens to be in the "Opinion" section, but I think that the author makes some valid points.
It saddens me to know that people would be so against a bill that fights to eliminate discrimination in the workplace. I agree with Katie that the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party have too much power to sway the rest of the party because of their extreme social views. I hope to see this bill get passed; it's about time all people are treated with equal respect.
ReplyDeleteOn a consistent basis our class brings up the fact that it is 2013, but we still cannot accomplish some seemingly trivial tasks. The fact that their is opposition to ending this type of discrimination disheartens me. I am glad that the senate is discussing the bill regardless of it's opposition. I believe that the longer we wait to pass bills such as this one the further we fall behind.
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