Enter to open, tab to navigate, enter to select
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.