Question

6.  The Civil Rights Act addresses discrimination in the workplace.

a) What classes of workers does the Federal Act protect?

b) Some states have added additional protected classes of workers. Identify additional protected classes in New Jersey.

Answer 1

Civil Rights Act (1964)

It is the labor law legislation that oulawed discrimination based on race, colour, or religion. It is called the most important U.S law many times since reconstruction (1865-77) and also called as a hallmark of the Americal Civil Rights Movement. The titles that organises the Law are:-

-Title I - The act gurantees equaling voting rights by removing registration requirements procedures biased against minorities and the under privileged.

-Title II - Prohibits discrimination in places of public accomodations involved in interstate commerce.

-Title III - Prohibits state and local goverments from denying access to public properties and facilities based on colour, race, religion or national origin.

-Title IV - The act also calls for the desegregation of public schools.

-Title V - Provided for the expansion of Civil Rights Commision that was established by the earlier Civil Rights Act of 1957.

Title VI - Prohibits discrimination by goverment agencies that recieve federal funds under penalty of losing such funding.

-Title VII - Provides equal employment opportunities by prohibiting discrimination by covered employers ont the basis of race, colour, gender or national origin.

-Title VIII - Required compilation of voter registration and voting data in specific areas.

-Title IX - Facilitates movement of civil right cases from state courts to federal courts.

-Title X - Created the Community Relations Service that would assist in disputes involving discrimination claims.

- Title XI - Affords defendants accused of criminal contempt under the act the right to a trial by jury. Also sets penalties.

CIVIL RIGHTS ACT ADDRESSES THE DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE

The statement clearly defines the Title VII of Civil Rights Act, 1964.

The law helps in protection of every individual from discrimination in the hiring and employment process virtually. The laws are often amended and expanded inclusion of newer forms of discrimination and other employment issues that have arisen over the five decades. Discrimination based on the below listed items are to be considered illegal according to Civil Rights Act.

Race

Gender

Marital Status

Pregnancy

Age

Disability

Nationality

HIV/AIDS Status

Genetic Information

Religious Affilation

Sexual Orientation

Racial Discrimination At The Workplace

Harassment includes activities or incidents like slurs, derogatory statements, or other offensive behaviours occur, including both verbal and physical use for discrimination, predicated by employee's race.

National Origin Discrimation At Workplace

No individual may be denied employment ot the basis of his/her birth location, cultural ancestry or language characteristics.

Religious or Faith Based Discrimination At The Work Place

- Disparate Treatment Discrimination- Employee being denied employment or promotion because of their beliefs or religions.

- Disparate Impact Discrimination- Employee's being forced by employers to work under rules and regulations that would force a person to choose his faith over remaining employed.

- Hostile Workplace Enviroment Discrimination- Creation of insulting, abusive, threatning, and embarassing workplace for employees beacuse of their religion and beliefs.

Sexual Orientation Discrimination In The Workplace

The law protect the employees from the judgement of their employment status on the basis of their sexual orientation.

What are protected classes"

Under federal law employers can't discriminate on the basis of sex, religion, race, colour, national origin, age or diability. There is also a criteria for that must be met for the consideration of coming under protected class. Earlier, only race and colour were the only protected classes, however, the protected classes grew significantly after the introduction of Civil Rights Act of 1964. Sex, Age, Religion, National Origin, and many other added to the protected classes. The act also gives birth to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency which oversees the enforcement of Title VII and Civil Rights Act as they apply to employment.

The Protected Classes Of Workers Under Federal Law

Race	Civil Rights Act Of 1964
Religion	Civil Rights Act Of 1964
National Origin	Civil Rights Act Of 1964
Age (40 and Over)	Age Discrimination In Employment Act Of 1967
Sex	Equal Pay Act Of 1963 and Civil Rights Act Of 1964
Pregnancy	Pregnancy Discrimination Act
Familial Status	Civil Rights Act Of 1968
Disability	Rehabilation Act Of 1973 and Americans With Disabilities Act Of 1990
Genetic Information	Genetic Information Non Discrimination Act
Veteran Status	Veitnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act Of 1974 and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

States which have added additional protected classes-

State	Added Protected Classes
California	Military or Veteran Status, Ancestry, Medical Conditions
Florida	Handicap, Sickle Cell Trait
Georgia	Retiliation
Hawaii	Credit History, Required Submission To Lie Detectors, Domestic Violence Victim Status, Mental Disability
Kentucky	Black Lung Disease, Smoking, HIV Status
New York	Sealed Arrest, Pre Disposing Genetic Characteristics
Pennysylvania	Use of Service Animal, Refusal To Perform Abortion
Washington	Honorably Discharged Veteran

ADDITIONAL PROTECTED CLASSES IN NEW JERSEY

Breastfeeding

Domestic Partnership

Housing Discrimination

Liability For Military Service

A Typical Hereditary Cellular or Blood Trait

Credit and Business Contracts

Reprisal

Hope, that answers all parts of the question. Comment for queries.