The EEOC enforces the federal laws against job discrimination and harassment. Currently, EEOC has enforcement responsibility for the following federal employment discrimination laws:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), which makes it illegal to discriminate against a person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The law also protects you from retaliation if you complain about discrimination or participate in an EEOC investigation or lawsuit.
- The Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which amended Title VII to make it illegal to discriminate against a woman because of pregnancy, childbirth, or a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth.
- The Equal Pay Act of 1963, which makes it illegal to pay different wages to men and women if they perform equal work in the same workplace. The law also protects you from retaliation if you complain about discrimination or participate in an EEOC investigation or lawsuit.
- Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which makes it illegal to discriminate against a person with a disability in private companies and state and local governments. The law also protects you from retaliation if you complain about discrimination or participate in an EEOC investigation or lawsuit.
- Sections 501 and 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which makes it illegal to discriminate against a person with a disability in the federal government. The law also protects you from retaliation if you complain about discrimination or participate in an EEOC investigation or lawsuit.
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), which protects people who are age 40 or older from discrimination because of age. The law also protects you from retaliation if you complain about age discrimination or participate in an EEOC investigation or lawsuit.