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.