HR Laws

Executive Order 11246

prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in all employment activities

Older Workers Benefit Protection Act

prohibits employers from denying benefits to older employees except in limited circumstances

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals with physical or mental disabilities and the chronically ill

Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)

prohibits specific employers from discriminating against employees and applicants age 40 or older in any employment area

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008

employers are prohibited from requesting, requiring, or purchasing the genetic information of workers or their family members

Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010

ended the ban on gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons openly serving in the US military

Equal Pay Act

makes it illegal to discriminate against people in terms of the pay, employee benefits, and pension they earn based on their gender when they do equal work

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA)

people who enter the military for a total of 5 years can return to their private-sector jobs without risk of loss of seniority or benefits

Civil Rights Act of 1991

Employees who can prove they were intentionally discriminated against can seek compensatory monetary damages (pain, suffering, anguish, etc.)

Civil Rights Act of 1964

addresses discrimination in society; Title VII specifies employment discrimination in all HR activities (hiring, training, promotion, transfers, benefits, etc.)

Equal Employment Opportunity Act

amended Civil Rights Act with two important changes: (1) Coverage of the act was broadened to include state and local governments and public and private educational institutions; (2) law strengthened the enforcement powers of the EEOC by allowing the agency itself to sue employers in court to enforce the provisions of the act

Glass Ceiling Act of 1991

created to study and report on the status of and obstacles faced by minorities as they strive for top-level management jobs

Veterans Benefits Improvement Act

requires employers to provide a notice of rights, benefits, and obligations of both employees and employers under USERRA

Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973

requires private employers with federal contracts over $2,500 to take action to hire individuals with a mental or physical disability

Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978

states that pregnancy is a disability and that pregnant employees in covered orgs must be treated on an equal basis with employees having other medical conditions

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act 2009

states that the 180-day statute of limitations for filing an equal-pay lawsuit with EEOC resets with each new discriminatory paycheck an employee receives