DOLI is committed to the goal of equal employment opportunity, with the intention that every employee and applicant for employment shall have an equal opportunity to be judged on the basis of their fitness and merit to participate in the terms, conditions, privileges, and benefits of employment.  The prohibition against employment discrimination applies to every component of the hiring process and employment practices.  Examples of these are activities involving hiring, promotion, transfer, training, layoff, application of corrective actions, demotion, and compensation.  An employee’s or applicant’s race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, political affiliation, or disability where the person is otherwise qualified shall not be considered in these determinations, nor will bona fide job requirements, performance criteria, or qualifications be lowered in order to give preference to any state employee or applicant on the basis of the above prohibitions.

Every DOLI employee shall strive to adhere to the practice of equal employment opportunity as an integral part of his or her job responsibilities.  Moreover, managers and supervisors are individually charged with demonstrating equal treatment in the employment and advancement of all qualified individuals including minorities, women, otherwise qualified persons with disabilities, and members of other protected classes.  Retaliatory action against any person making allegations of violations of these guidelines is prohibited.