State and federal commissions concerned with job rights came to Cincinnati last week to urge companies to stamp out workplace discrimination.

        During a daylong series of sessions, representatives from the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission said companies wrongly accused of discrimination by employees have nothing to fear from the agencies.

        Officials said it is critical for companies and employees who are bringing charges to tell their full story.

        “Be candid,” Matt Miko, director of enforcement for the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, suggested at an informational session at the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce.

        “If you are evasive, it is not hard for an investigator to leap to a conclusion.”

        The commission, which reviews about 5,000 discrimination allegations each year and files formal charges on about 850 of them, is urging companies and complainants to mediate accusations rather than pursue the more extensive investigatory approach.

        Mediation takes place within 30 days, while investigations can take six months to one year.

        The agency suggested some tips for companies that want a successful mediation:

        • Bring the top corporate official — president, chief executive or administrator.

        • Be prepared to talk in detail about what happened and the company response.

        • Bring workable proposals that the other party might agree with.

        • Plan on staying for the entire day.

        • Be open to compromises brought by the complainant.

        Mediation to resolve allegations of discrimination almost always pleases the individual who believes he has been discriminated against in the workplace and the company.

        “We have found that about 96 percent of the participants like the program and will participate again,” said Michael C. Fetzer, district director of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

        A handful of human-resources executives who represented local companies attended an afternoon session at the chamber.

        Mr. Fetzer said a challenge for many companies is detecting subtle employment discrimination that is based on race or religious bias.

        With Arab or Muslim workers possibly becoming targets of hateful comments in the weeks and months to come, Mr. Fetzer asked that companies be vigilant.

        Regular postings that discrimination will not be tolerated, firm direction from companies' chief executives and watchful first-line supervisors can keep workplaces free of bias.

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