|
Under U.S. laws that are enforced by the EEOC, workplaces are not allowed to discriminate against candidates or employees based on their race, color, religion, sex, or disability. The EEOC stands for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and it’s the national organization that makes sure federal laws regarding equal opportunity in the workplace are honored. Because it’s important to understand your rights at work, let’s go through some of the laws that protect you as an employee.
- Equal Pay Act of 1963
- The Equal Pay Act of 1963 makes it illegal for men and women who work in the same role under the same employer to be paid differently. While there still exists a prevalent wage gap between men and women, especially when layering on other identity components like race, the Equal Pay Act aims to limit employers that violate these parameters.
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- This is another early act designed to protect employers against discrimination based on sex, race, national origin, or sexual origin.
- Due to this act, it is also illegal to make offensive comments about someone’s sexual orientation.
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
- Under the ADEA, it is illegal to discriminate against individuals who are 40 or older.
- American with Disabilities Act of 1990
- This act protects mentally and/or physically disabled individuals from illegal hiring practices, and unfair wages and promotions.
- Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA)
- Under GINA, job applicants cannot be denied or discriminated against based on their genetic makeup or family history.
- This is a fairly new law but promotes equality in situations where candidates or employees are at higher risks of developing diseases due to family health history.
- Pregnancy Discrimination Act
- This act is a 1978 addition to the Civil Rights Law of 1964 that prohibits discrimination against pregnant women or anyone experiencing events related to childbirth.
To learn more about these laws as well as additional state protections, read this article.
