Protected Class

Practical Law Glossary Item 5-501-5857 (Approx. 3 pages)

Glossary

Protected Class

A group of people with a common characteristic who are legally protected from employment discrimination on the basis of that characteristic. Protected classes are created by both federal and state law.
For more information, see Anti-Discrimination Protections Quick Compare Chart.
Federal protected classes include:
  • Race.
  • Color.
  • Religion or creed.
  • National origin or ancestry.
  • Sex (including gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity).
  • Pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions.
  • Age.
  • Physical or mental disability.
  • Veteran status.
  • Genetic information.
  • Citizenship.
For more information, see Practice Note, Discrimination: Overview and Anti-Discrimination Laws: State Q&A Tool.
End of Document
Resource ID 5-501-5857
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Resource Type Glossary
Jurisdiction
  • USA (National/Federal)
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