Laws & Regulations

Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of age against most employees and applicants for employment who are forty (40) years of age and older.

Prohibits employment discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities who are able to perform the essential functions of a position with or without reasonable accommodations. Individuals with disabilities have (1) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of their major life activities; (2) has a record of such an impairment; (3) or is regarded as having such an impairment. Employers are required to make reasonable accommodations for an applicant’s or employee’s disability unless doing so creates an undue hardship or would be financially burdensome.

Requires equal pay for men and women doing the same or substantially similar work in terms of skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions in the same organization.

Provides employees with at least 12 months service who worked at least 1,250 hours during that 12-month period with 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave every 12 months for the birth or adoption of a child, becoming a foster parent, or the serious health condition of the employee or the serious health condition of a covered family member. It also allows 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave if a covered employee’s spouse, parent or child is on active duty in the military or is a reservist recalled to active duty for specific qualifying exigencies; and/or 26 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave during a single 12-month period to care for family members injured while on active military duty.

Prohibits the use of genetic information, including family medical history, when making employment decisions, such as hiring, termination, compensation and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment (including healthcare plans).

Requires reasonable accommodation for pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would cause the employer an undue hardship.

Requires federal contractors to take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities. It also prohibits recipients of federal financial assistance from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities.

Prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance (includes Antisemitism and Islamophobia).

Prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, and religion (including providing reasonable accommodation for religious observance). Title VII was amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 to prohibit discrimination based on pregnancy which was defined as a form of sex discrimination.

Prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational programs and activities (including admission, athletics, employment, and financial aid) that receive federal financial assistance.

Protects military service members and veterans from employment discrimination based on their service and allows them to regain their civilian jobs following a period of uniformed service. The law covers members and veterans of the Armed Forces, Reserves, National Guard, and other “Uniformed Services” (including the National Disaster Medical System, FEMA Urban Search & Rescue, FEMA Reservists, and the Commissioned Corps of both the National Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).

Prohibits discrimination and requires affirmative action for qualified Vietnam-era veterans, special disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, and veterans who served on active duty during a war on in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized.