Recent updates to the Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA) (codified via HB 1407) establish strict one-year deadlines for employees to file civil lawsuits regarding discrimination, replacing previously ambiguous timeframes.
While prohibited bases of discrimination remain unchanged, employers must now ensure strict compliance discipline to avoid prolonged liability.
The updated legislation brings clear guidelines and specific obligations for handling workplace claims:
- Clear Filing Deadlines: Employees must now file a civil action within one year of either a “reasonable cause” determination by the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) or a Notice of Right to Sue from the EEOC (whichever happens first).
- Absolute Outer Limit: If agencies fail to act within 180 days, civil claims must commence no later than 18 months after the initial charge was filed.
- Training Prohibitions: Under previous updates (HB 7), it is unlawful discrimination to subject employees to workplace training that compels them to believe members of a specific race, color, sex, or national origin are morally superior.
- Harassment Procedures: Employers are increasingly expected to maintain formal, documented procedures with set timelines for investigating and resolving internal harassment complaints.
More information at this resource: https://www.fisherphillips.com/en/insights/insights/new-florida-law-offers-clarity-in-workplace-discrimination-filings
