Anti-Discrimination Law

10 Points for Discussion

Title VII

• 1964 Civil Rights Act

• Prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender or national origin.

• Original intention of the law was to defeat race discrimination in employment.

Gender Discrimination

• The concept of gender discrimination was not included in the original language of Title VII.

• Gender discrimination was added by politicians who wanted to defeat the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Sexual Harassment

• Sexual harassment is considered a form of gender/sex discrimination.

Age Discrimination

• The Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects workers 40 and older.

EEOC

• The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission oversees compliance issues for The 1964 Civil Rights Act as well as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Texas

• Texas is an employment-at-will State. The law says an employer may fire you for “good reason, bad reason, or no reason at all.” But the law also allows the employee to sue you if you do it.

Sexual Orientation

• Sexual orientation discrimination is not covered under federal law; however, some states and local governments offer this protection.

General Harassment

• Generalized harassment/discrimination is not covered under federal law.

State and Local Laws

• Some states have more stringent laws than those imposed by the federal government.