The White House announced some time ago that President Obama would sign an executive order that prohibits discrimination against gay and transgender workers who work for the federal government, its contracting agencies, and federal contractors. That order become official today. Several state and local governments have already adopted similar protections. Estimates are that the federal changes will affect nearly twenty-five thousand companies and touch approximately twenty percent of all workers in the U.S.  The signing comes after the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, commonly referred to as ENDA, again failed to move forward in the U.S. House. The signing served to amend prior executive

Job descriptions are important. They are not specifically required by law or regulation. However, the essential functions of a job must be considered in many contexts such as questions involving disability status or leave. Job descriptions allow the employer to clarify what responsibility an employee has within the business and how the employee is expected to operate. This information matters from the first interview through the end of employment. Descriptions allow the employer to define relationships and obligations between co-workers and departments or divisions. They can set out educational, training, and skills requirements. They can also be the first place an