Beware of ‘Zero Tolerance’ Policies, EEOC Commissioner Warns

Businesses that implement “zero tolerance” policies in the wake of the #MeToo movement may be making it tougher to combat sexual harassment on the job, Equal Employment Opportunity Commissioner Chai Feldblum (D) said today.

Employers have been trying to enhance protections against workplace harassment in response to swirling public attention to the issue. But they can go overboard by treating all bad behavior as a fireable offense, Feldblum said at an EEOC event.

“That will not only be correctly perceived as an unfair system, but it might also chill reporting,” Feldblum said. “A lot of people don’t want their co-worker ...