Governing Regulations
Discrimination in the workplace is regulated by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC is a U.S. federal agency responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information. The EEOC also investigates claims of retaliation against employees who report discrimination.
The United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) publishes the rules and regulations of the U.S. government, including EEOC regulations. The CFR has 50 sections, called titles; titles are subdivided into parts. Each title represents a broad area subject to federal regulation. Discrimination in the workplace is governed by the following laws and regulations:
- 29 CFR §1603-§1606
- 29 CFR §1625 and §1626
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (including the 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination amendment)
- The Equal Pay Act ( EPA)
- Title 1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- The EEOC Compliance Manual Section on Race and Color Discrimination (Section 15)
