What is meant by Equal Employment Opportunity ?

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Equal employment opportunity is employment practice where employers do not engage in employment activities that are prohibited by law. It is illegal for employers to discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, age, color, sex, religion, or national origin.

Modern anti-discrimination employment laws and policies in the United States have their foundation in the Civil Rights Act of1964. Title VII of the Act makes certain discriminatory practices illegal including discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Title VI applies to private employers employing15 or more employees, labor unions, and employment agencies. The Civil Rights Act also helped create the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which is charged with the enforcement of the federal anti-discrimination employment laws.

Title VII protects employees or applicants from discrimination in the many employment activities, including:

• Recruitment
• Hiring
• Promotion
• Compensation
• Benefits
• Training
• Other employment terms, conditions and privileges
• Harassment
• Retaliation - adverse action taken because an applicant or employee asserted rights under Title VII or participated in an EEOC proceeding such as testifying and assisting
• Segregation and Classification
• Pre-employment inquiries and requirements - nothing should be required that tends to disclose a characteristic protected under Title VII
• Religious practices that don't impose an undue hardship on an employer

Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination in employment due to a disability. It applies to employers who employ15 employees or more people, but it does not apply to the U.S. government. The Rehabilitation Act prohibits disability discrimination and applies to the U.S. government. It generally provides the same rights as the ADA.

Generally speaking, an individual is disabled under the ADA if she suffers from a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, has a history of disability, or is perceived to have a disability in certain circumstances. Employers may not discriminate regarding hiring, firing, training, compensation, benefits and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment.

Employers must also provide reasonable accommodations to applicants or employees who request them. A reasonable accommodation is a modification to the work environment that permits the person to perform the essential functions of the job. Making a cubicle accessible to a wheel chair is an example. Employers do not have to provide a reasonable accommodation if it would impose an undue hardship.