What happened?

On February 26, 2024, Lehigh County officials signed The Lehigh County Human Relations Ordinance (LCHRO), which establishes a comprehensive employment regulation ordinance.

What are the details?

Key Bites for Employers:

• The LCHRO is intended to ensure equal opportunity for all individuals in Lehigh County concerning employment, housing, education, healthcare, and use of public accommodations, without regard to actual or perceived protected characteristics.

• The LCHRO combines virtually every federal and state law prohibiting discrimination and retaliation into one ordinance and takes it a step further.

• It applies to any “person or organization” employing 1 worker or contractor (who provides services to a person or organization).

• Protected Characteristics

• Examples of prohibited discriminatory Actions

• Ban the Box

• Salary History Ban

• Enforcements, complaints, and penalties

• Provide Written Notification: If an employer denies employment based on an applicant’s criminal history, they must provide a written notice explaining the decision.

Business Considerations

• Employers should take their time and review carefully the LCHRO, which affects several areas, especially employment. The Ordinance applies to any person or organization with at least 1 employee or contractor (or both).
• Employers should review and update their policies, practices, and procedures according to the new requirements.
• Employers should consider training HR personnel and other relevant employees in the new requirements.
• Employers should provide the appropriate notice if employment is denied based on an applicant’s criminal history.

Source References

• Lehigh County Human Relations Ordinance (LCHRO)
• Employer FAQs on the New and Expansive Anti-Discrimination Rules in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh County (Fisher & Phillips LLP.)
• Employers Face June 1, 2024 Deadline to Comply with Lehigh County, Pennsylvania’s New Expansive Anti-Discrimination Ordinance (Littler Mendelson P.C.)
• Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, Unleashes Omnibus Employment Ordinance (Fox Rothschild LLP)
• New Lehigh County Anti-Discrimination Ordinance (HOFFMAN & HLAVAC)

This communication is intended solely for the purpose of conveying information. The present post might incorporate hyperlinks directing readers to websites managed by third-party entities. The inclusion of any links within this communication is meant to serve as points of reference and could encompass opinion articles from various law firms, articles from HR associations, official websites, news releases, and documents of government agencies, and other relevant third-party sources. Vensure has no authority over these external websites and bears no responsibility for their content. Furthermore, Vensure does not endorse the materials present on these websites. The contents of this communication should not be interpreted as legal advice or as a legal standpoint concerning specific facts or scenarios. Nor should it be deemed an exhaustive compilation of facts potentially pertinent to federal, state, or local laws. It is strongly advised that employers solicit legal guidance from an employment attorney when undertaking actions in response to any legal updates provided. This is due to the possibility of future alterations occurring in federal, state, and local laws, regulations, as well as the directives and guidelines issued by governing agencies. These changes may transpire at any given time, potentially rendering certain portions of the content within this update void or inaccurate.