An Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO) promotes fairness and prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on protected characteristics. Compliance with EEOC regulations is crucial for most US companies. Being an EEO employer fosters diversity, bringing unique perspectives and capabilities, enhancing business success.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) refers to fair, unbiased treatment in the workplace. Employers are prohibited from discriminating against existing or potential employees based on protected characteristics, including:
- Race / color
- National origin / ethnicity
- Religion
- Age
- Sex / gender / sexual orientation
- Medical history
In the US, companies need to comply with the regulations of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a regulatory body that enforces a group of federal EEO laws. These regulations apply in every work situation; for example when employers hire, terminate, compensate, promote and train employees. It’s also illegal to discriminate against people who have complained about discrimination.
Most companies with 15 employees or more are legally obliged to follow the equal employment opportunity laws. These include:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII)
- The Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA)
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA)
- Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
- The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA)
Also, the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 gives the EEOC the authority to sue in federal court cases of unlawful, discriminatory employment practices.
For more details on what is an equal opportunity employer, read our EEO definition and learn the obligations and the exceptions that might impact your business.
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