NEW YORK: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) visited Dallas' Gurdwara Singh Sabha recently, in an effort to educate the Sikh community about employment discrimination, and to provide strategies to prevent, address, and contest discriminatory practices.

Approximately 500 people were in attendance, listening as EEOC officials explained the many facets of workplace discrimination. The EEOC highlighted many of the issues Sikhs face at the workplace, and explained ways to counter them. Representing the EEOC were Belinda F. McCallister and Beverly Squire, both EEOC Investigators, and Michael Fetzer, Director of the EEOC Regional Office in Dallas.The EEOC is a federal agency working to end employment discrimination within the United States, primarily by reviewing and litigating cases on behalf of employees who are victims of workplace discrimination.

In addition, the EEOC made a presentation informing the congregation of their rights in the workplace, detailing discrimination regarding hiring, pay raises, and promotions. EEOC representatives also discussed what to do if discrimination occurs and how to seek redress. Brochures and pamphlets were also distributed to the attendees, covering many of the issues in the presentation.

According to Harpreet Singh, Legal Director of United Sikhs, "The EEOC is collaborating with UNITED SIKHS to create educational programs to inform the EEOC staff regarding discriminatory practices that the Sikh community encounters, and to instruct the Sikhs about their rights in the workplace."

Commenting on the collaborative effort, Fetzer stated, "We are looking forward to working with the Sikh community and we thank United Sikhs for the opportunity to speak and to learn about the Sikh faith."In an effort to create a better dialogue and understanding on the Sikh faith and community, United Sikhs have been requested to present a seminar about Sikhism at the Dallas EEOC office, going into detail about the turban and other Sikh articles of faith. "We appreciate the hospitality displayed by the Sikhs in allowing us to come and address their community.

This has been an educational experience for us, and we hope to use this information to help Sikh Americans arm themselves against workplace discrimination," McCallister stated. An initiative is underway to inform employers and employees about the Sikh religion, the significance of the Sikh articles of faith, and the rights of Sikhs in the workplace."United Sikhs thanks the EEOC representatives for taking time out to provide this information. We are collaborating our efforts with the EEOC to raise awareness in the Sikh community." United Sikhs director based in Dallas, Gurvinder Singh commented.