Wastewater utility adds anti-bias rule

Little Rock Wastewater followed the city’s lead last week by adopting an official resolution pledging nondiscrimination against employees and vendors.

Like the city ordinance, the wastewater utility’s resolution promises not to discriminate against its employees or selection of vendors based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or genetic information.

The utility added one protected class that the city didn’t include — military status.

The resolution also requires companies under contract with the utility to adopt the same nondiscrimination clause in relation to their own employees.

Several cities, a county and other public agencies have adopted similar guidelines after Little Rock took the lead earlier this year.