The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that its Commissioners have voted to rescind the agency’s 2024 Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace. The decision removes the guidance from the EEOC’s official resources, though the agency emphasized that the withdrawal does not alter employers’ underlying obligations under federal anti‑discrimination laws.
The 2024 guidance had been intended to consolidate decades of case law and EEOC interpretations into a single, comprehensive document addressing protected characteristics, causation, and examples of conduct that could constitute unlawful harassment. It also incorporated more recent legal developments, including protections related to sexual orientation and gender identity.
With the guidance now withdrawn, employers will continue to rely on Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other federal statutes and state laws, along with established court decisions, to understand how harassment claims are evaluated. Organizations should continue reviewing their policies and training to ensure they align with longstanding federal requirements and should monitor the EEOC for any future updates or replacement guidance.