Race & Color Discrimination

The federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating against employees or applicants on the basis of race or color in any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoffs, training, benefits, leave, and any other term or condition of employment. This prohibition includes discrimination on the basis of personal characteristics associated with race, such as hair texture and facial features. Notably, the law prohibits both intentional discrimination and neutral job policies that disproportionately exclude minorities and that are not job related.

Federal law also imposes certain harassment prevention and pre-employment inquiry requirements on employers based on the race and color discrimination prohibition. Continue reading for more information on these requirements.