Both Congress and state legislatures have enacted numerous statutes designed to ensure that workers are able to work in environments free of illegal discrimination. In many instances, local governments have also enacted various anti-discrimination and anti-harassment ordinances. These statutes prohibit discrimination on a variety of grounds, including:
These statutes govern every aspect of employment – from what may be asked during the initial application process to regulating how the employment relationship ends, whether voluntary or involuntary. Consequently, it is important for employers to have an awareness of the various federal, state and local statutes that may govern the employment relationship.
Federal laws prohibiting discrimination include, but are not limited to: