Reasonable accommodations are required under three different laws enforced by the EEOC:
- The Americans with Disabilities Act/Rehabilitation Act (requiring a change to the work environment or in the way that things are usually done to help someone with a disability apply for a job, perform the duties of a job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment);
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (requiring adjustments to the work environment that will allow an applicant or employee to comply with their sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances); and
- The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (requiring a change to the work environment or in the way that things are usually done to help someone with a known limitation related to, affected by, or arising out of pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition apply for a job, perform the duties of a job, enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment, or temporarily suspend the essential functions of a job.
Under federal law, a person has a disability if:
- The person has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities;
- Has a history of such an impairment; or
- Is subjected to an adverse employment action because of a physical or mental impairment the individual actually has or is perceived to have, except if their impairment, or perceived impairment is transitory (lasting or expected to last six months or less) and minor.
Restrictions on when and how much medical information an employer may obtain about any applicant or employee.
Harassment is unwelcome conduct that is based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation & gender identity), pregnancy, national origin, older age (beginning at age 40), disability, or genetic information including family medical history.
The Equal Pay Act requires that men and women in the same workplace be given equal pay for equal work. The jobs need not be identical, but they must be substantially equal. Job content (not job titles) determines whether jobs are substantially equal.
Federal employment anti-discrimination laws prohibit employers from discriminating against workers, and former employees, in providing benefits to include insurance, medical benefits, and pensions.
EEO laws prohibit punishing job applicants or employees for asserting their rights under EEO laws or their right to be free from employment discrimination, including harassment. Asserting these EEO rights is called 'protected activity' and it can take many forms. For example, it is unlawful to retaliate against applicants or employees for filing or being a witness in an EEO charge, complaint, investigation, or lawsuit; reasonably opposing or communicating with a supervisor or manager about employment discrimination, including harassment; and answering questions during an employer investigation of alleged harassment, among many other examples.
To discriminate against someone means to treat that person differently, or less favorably, for a prohibited reason (see race/color, etc. below), or because of their association with someone for a prohibited reason (such as refusing to hire someone because of their spouse's race or religion).
Race discrimination involves treating someone (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because he/she is of a certain race or because of personal characteristics associated with race (such as hair texture, skin color, or certain facial features).
Color discrimination involves treating someone unfavorably because of skin color/complexion (such as treating someone who is darker-skinned unfavorably in comparison to a lighter-skinned person from the same race).
Discrimination involves treating people (applicants or employees) unfavorably because they are from a particular country or part of the world, because of ethnicity or accent, or because they appear to be of a certain ethnic background, even if they are not.
Religious discrimination involves treating an applicant or employee unfavorably because of his or her religious beliefs. The law protects not only people who belong to traditional, organized religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism, but also others who have sincerely held religious, ethical or moral beliefs, including a sincerely held belief in the absence of religion.
Sex discrimination involves treating someone (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because of that person's sex, including the person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy. The EEOC enforces three federal laws that protect job applicants and employees on the basis of pregnancy and related conditions – The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. These protections include the right to reasonable accommodation.
Discrimination involves treating a woman (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because of pregnancy, childbirth, or a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth.
Age Discrimination in Employment Act forbids age discrimination against people who are age 40 or older. It does not protect workers under the age of 40, although some states have laws that protect younger workers from age discrimination.
It is illegal to discriminate against employees or applicants because of genetic information. Genetic information includes family medical history, as well as information about genetic tests, among other things.