Laws and Regulations
These links will take you to specific equal employment opportunity laws
and regulations, and to sites where you can search for employment laws and
regulations. These laws and regulations have been interpreted through numerous
court decisions, and enforcement agency opinions, that you must consider
to understand the current law on particular issues. The descriptions following
the links below provide only a brief summary of each law, regulation, or
site. You must examine the linked material to learn the specific provisions
and coverage of the laws and regulations.
United States of America
Prohibits employment discrimination because of race, color, sex, national
origin, and religion. Prohibits retaliation for opposing discrimination,
filing a complaint, or participating in a related proceeding.
Prohibits employment discrimination because of age against persons age
40 and older. Prohibits retaliation for opposing age discrimination, filing
a complaint, or participating in a related proceeding. This law was amended
by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act which sets minimum criteria
that must be satisfied before a waiver of any ADEA right is considered a
"knowing and voluntary" waiver.
Prohibits employment discrimination because of: mental and physical
disabilities that substantially limit a major life activity; or having a
record of a disability; or being regarded as having a disability. Requires
reasonable accommodation of mental and physical disabilities.
Provides for the recovery of compensatory and punitive damages in actions
under Title VII and the Americans With Disabilities Act, and addresses other
aspects of discrimination law, including disparate impact claims, mixed
motive cases, seniority systems, coverage of U. S. citizens employed abroad
by American corporations, and expert witness fees.
Prohibits wage differentials based on sex for jobs that require equal
skill, effort, and responsibility, and are performed under similar working
conditions in the same establishment ("equal pay for equal work").
Prohibits employment discrimination against disabled persons who are
employed by federal government agencies, federal contractors, and recipients
of federal financial assistance. Requires federal contractors to use affirmative
action in recruiting and employing disabled persons.
Provides that eligible employees may take up to 12 weeks of leave during
a 12-month period if an employee's serious health condition makes the employee
unable to perform the essential functions of their job; or to care for a
newborn or adopted child; or to care for the employee's spouse, child, or
parent who has a serious health condition.
Search this Cornell University site for the term "29 CFR 1601"
to view the regulations of the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
that describe its handling of charges of employment discrimination.
These regulations describe the process for handling employment discrimination
complaints made by employees of most federal government agencies.
Requires non-discrimination by employers having federal government contractors.
Regulations applicable to federal government contractors regarding non-discrimination
in employment, affirmative action, and compliance reviews .
Federal statutes that protect civil rights, including Sections 1981,
1981a, and 1983.
Discrimination against aliens authorized to work, or discrimination
in favor of authorized alien workers, is unlawful for farm employers with
four or more employees.
Guidelines issued jointly by the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Justice on discrimination
in employee selection procedures.
State of California
This state law prohibits employment discrimination because of the race,
religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability,
mental disability, medical condition, marital status, or sex, and describes
the powers and procedures of the California Department of Fair Employment
and Housing, and the California Fair Employment and Housing Commission.
Prohibits employment discrimination because of sexual orientation.
Prohibits wage discrimination based on sex in jobs that require equal
skill, effort, and responsibility, and are performed under similar working
conditions.
Section 8 states that a person may not be disqualified from entering
or pursuing a business, profession, vocation, or employment because of sex,
race, creed, color, or national or ethnic origin. Section 31(a) provides
that the State shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment
to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, or ethnicity,
or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education,
or public contracting.
The State's home web page that provides access, and search capability,
for all of the web pages maintained by the State of California.
The Legislative Counsel's page provides access, and search capability,
for all California legislative information, and laws.
State of Oregon
This new site became operational in July 1998, and describes the laws
and procedures administered by BOLI, and it Civil Rights Division.
State law that prohibits discrimination because of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, marital status, disability, and other unlawful
employment practices.
These Oregon Administrative Rules describe the procedures for filing
a discrimination complaint, and the procedures for handling of the complaint
by the BOLI Civil Rights Division.
These Oregon Administrative Rules discuss topics including unlawful
discrimination, discrimination theories, degreee of causality, and bona
fide occupational qualifications.
Scroll to 839-006-0200 for Persons With Disabilities, ORS 659.425, for
rules prohibiting employment discrimination against persons with mental
or physical disabilities. Topics include definitions, prohibition of discrimination,
and reasonable accommodation.
These Oregon Administrative Rules discuss differential treatment because
of gender, protections relating to pregnancy, and the definition of sexual
harassment.
The Oregon Safe Employment Act provides that no person can refuse to
hire a prospective employee, discharge an employee, or otherwise discriminate
against an employee or prospective employee because that employee or prospective
employee: opposed any practice forbidden by OSEA; made a complaint related
to OSEA; or, instituted, or testified in, a proceeding under OSEA.
All of the administrative rules of the Bureau of Labor and Industries,
including the Civil Rights Division.
Requires employers to provide leave to covered employees to care for
an employee's newborn, newly adopted or newly placed foster child; for an
employee's own serious health condition or to care for a family member with
a serious health condition, including pregnancy-related conditions; and,
to care for an employee's child who is suffering from an illness or injury
that is not a serious health condition but requires home care.
Contains the name, job title, and telephone number for all employees
of the BOLI Civil Rights Division.
The home page of the State of Oregon that contains numerous links to
topics including government, community, commerce and education.
The home page of the Oregon Legislature, containing links to information
about the State Senate and House, and search capability about bills and
laws.
Contains the administrative rules of all Oregon agencies. Search for
the procedural and substantive rules of the Bureau of Labor and Industry,
Civil Rights Division.
Provides access to the Oregon Constitution, and search capability for
the Oregon Revised Statutes, and legislative measures.
Other Sources of Laws and Regulations
This site provides access to numerous federal and state employment and
labor laws.
This is a source of information on U. S. Congress legislation.
Provides links to numerous federal employment laws, and to federal agencies.
Contains plain-lanaguage information about employment laws, and other
laws. The feature for the month of July 1998 is sexual harassment law.
Provides information on employment law, employment discrimination law,
the EEOC, and other related topics.
A source of information about some federal employment laws, and selected
laws of some states, including California.
A comprehensive source of information about the law, government agencies,
legal organizations, law schools, and law firms.
Intended as "A premier internet legal resource locator."
A site that "has all sorts of workplace related materials for employers
& employees."
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