Explanation of the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act
Discrimination is a common problem observed in the society today. This is said to be a prejudicial treatment of individuals that tends to divide them from a society or a group. This type of social problem can cause damaging effects to individuals like depression, anger, low self esteem, isolation and stress. Discrimination has been affecting thousands of lives worldwide, and this poses negative impacts that affect the everyday living of individuals especially those who are being discriminated.
The Intent Behind the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act
Good thing is that there are laws being enforced these days, and these laws tend to put an end to discrimination that has been a long time problem of the society. The Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act is one in the list of laws created that aims to protect the welfare of the people. This is an act to explain civil rights and explanation of the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act will help individuals understand that it is now illegal to discriminate people.
The Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act prohibit discriminatory policies, practices, and customs based on color, race, religion, national origin, sex, marital or familial status, weight and height. The Explanation of the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act also covers preservation of record confidentiality regarding detention, arrest and other dispositions wherein convictions do not result. This act also discusses prescribing duties and powers of civil rights commission and civil rights department, providing penalties, fees, and remedies and repealing certain acts.
What the Law Enforces
Explanation of the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Ac states that subjecting individuals to differential or discriminatory treatment is illegal. This act reminds individuals that no one should be deprived of life regardless of age, color, sex, nationality and more other factors. The Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act or ELCRA also forbid employers to discriminate individuals of the protected class especially in terms of hiring, compensation and other privileges and conditions of employment. This act is considered as version of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and Equal Pay and Civil Rights Act of Michigan rolled in one.
Reprocussions
Employers who have been victims of discrimination can file their ELCRA complaints in the Civil Rights Commission of Michigan. The complaints will be investigated and the commission will take any of the following courses of actions:
• Initiates complaints and tries to settle the problem through conciliation.
• Initiates and files complaints within the country’s state court where discrimination is believed to take place.
• Know that discrimination may not occur and does not pursue complaints.
The Commission of Civil Rights may order employers to upgrade, reinstate or hire employees, pay damages like attorney’s fees, back pay and other necessary fees and submit compliance report to the commission. The Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act that has been authored and passed in 1976 is a valuable non-discriminatory act that helps in changing social status and attitudes.
This puts an end to discrimination not just in employment but also in public accommodation and housing. There have been attempts to amend the act and include gender expression, gender identity and sexual orientation for the past 10 years and so far, the attempts of amending the act start to signify success.
