The laws enforced by EEOC provide five basic rights for job applicants and employees who work in the United States. The laws apply to applicants, employees and former employees, regardless of their citizenship or work authorization status. Full-time, part-time, seasonal, and temporary employees are protected if they work for a covered employer. All federal government agencies and most other employers with at least 15 employees are covered by our laws. Most unions and employment agencies also are covered. If you work for one of these employers, you have the right to:
Work Free of Discrimination
You have a right to work free of discrimination. This means that your employer cannot make job decisions because of your race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, or age (age 40 or older). This right applies to all types of job decisions, including hiring, firing, promotions, training, wages and benefits.
Work Free of Harassment
You have a right to work in an environment free of harassment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, or age (age 40 or older).
Complain About Job Discrimination Without Punishment
You have a right to complain about treatment that you believe is illegal job discrimination. Your employer cannot punish you, treat you differently or harass you if you report job discrimination or help someone else report job discrimination, even if it turns out the conduct was not illegal. We call this your right to be protected from retaliation.
Request Workplace Changes for Your Religion or Disability
You have a right to request reasonable changes to your workplace because of your religious beliefs or medical condition. Although your employer does not have to grant every request, it should carefully consider each request and whether it would be possible.
Keep Your Medical Information Private
You have a right to keep any medical information you share with your employer private. Your employer should not discuss your medical information with others, unless they have a need to know the information. The laws enforced by EEOC also strictly limit what an employer can ask you about your health.
You may have additional workplace rights under other federal, state, or local laws or under your company's own policies. For example, other federal laws require your employer to pay you a minimum hourly wage and to provide you a safe working environment. State and local laws may offer you broader protection than the laws enforced by EEOC, especially if you work for a smaller employer or believe the unfair treatment is because of your sexual orientation, age (if under age 40), or some other reason not covered by federal law. To find out more, you should:
- Check out EEOC's page on other resources for youth workers.
- Ask your company for copies of any policies that apply to your job.
- Call the EEOC at 1-800-669-4000.