While the president and Congress debate, here are the basics of our regime against job discrimination. Race, Sex, Religion, National Origin. Our principal law on employment discrimination is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It applies to all who employ more than 15 workers, and to unions and employment agencies. Since 1972 it has applied to state and local governments, and to the U.S. government except the military.
Color is sometimes a separate claim from race.
For example, an employer was accused of favoring lighter blacks over darker blacks. It is sex discrimination to treat a pregnant woman differently from any man or woman with a medical condition that requires light work or temporary leave. But some state and city laws give them equivalent rights. While not part of Title VII, age discrimination in employment has been treated the same way under a separate law since 1967. The protected category was at first ages 40 to 65.