Regulatory Compliance
The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits age, sex, and racial discrimination by giving individuals “equal protection” under the law. The myriad of regulations and laws concerning discrimination can be very confusing for businesses, and the consequences of non-compliance can be disastrous both economically and socially, including fines, attorney’s fees, negative publicity stemming from lawsuits, as well as the costs of bringing the organization into compliance.
Public and private entities that receive contracts or revenue from the federal government are bound by Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) requirements. Often controversial and dynamic, equal employment laws require careful and ongoing analysis to keep up with the evolving rules. Mason Tillman can identify the rules that apply to our clients, conduct employment studies based on quantitative and qualitative data, and provide clear guidelines for sound policy and procedures.
Companies conducting routine human relations functions or undertaking major construction projects such as roads, buildings, airports, power plants, or dams face a variety of regulations from statutes including Title VII, Environmental Protection Act, Clean Air Act, and Clean Water Act. Understanding the regulatory requirements is critical for the success of the project.
Mason Tillman offers the following services to aid both public and private entities to stay in compliance:
- Develop and update compliance programs to address current equal opportunity and environmental issues and comply with judicial and statutory requirements
- Investigate individual problems and provide program assessment that ensures that our client achieves or remains in compliance
- Assist with Environmental Impact Review and construction permit approval processes, including identifying and dealing with community concerns
Selected Projects
Sludge Management, East Bay Municipal Utility District, Oakland, CA
Mason Tillman helped the East Bay Municipal Utility District overcome the "not in my backyard" (NIMBY) syndrome the District faced when it introduced its Sludge Managment Implementation Plan, which included choosing a site for a new waste treatment plant. Mason Tillman designed an aggressive public information compaign that included community workshops, media outreach, and grass-roots communication efforts. The campaign results included identifying a preferred location for the treatment plant, diffusing NIMBYism in its constituents, and facilitating the Environmental Impact Review that followed.
Equal Employment, Complaint Investigation, Santa Clara County, San Jose, CA
Mason Tillman conducted a workplace assessment following a rash of sexual discrimination complaints in Santa Clara County. These problems indicated that the County's staff was having difficulty with various regulatory issues. Mason Tillman conducted focus groups and interviews with key managers, staff, and union leaders, and all information presented was verified. Mason Tillman's report addressed patterns of discrimination and harassment, factors in the workplace inhibiting establishment of a bias-free environment, and key concerns and attitudes of managers and staff.
Environmental Impact Assessment, U.S. Department of Interior, Atlanta, GA
Mason Tillman designed a data recovery program and conducted studies related to historic cultural resource identification and analysis of the Department of Interior's Interagency Archeological Service. The project was part of a site review being conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers for the area, which would be covered by the lake created on completion of the Richard B. Russell Dam. Mason Tillman's comprehensive archeological research design focused on the institutions, values, and domestic behavior of the area residents over a period exceeding 200 years.
