LAWS THAT PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION

I. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII)

Title VII makes it an illegal practice to discriminate against a person in all aspects of the employment process because of their race, color, religion, gender (sex) or national origin. This applies to employment agencies and labor organizations as well as employers and includes hiring and firing, compensation, assignment or classification, transfers, promotions, layoff and recall, testing, use of company facilities, training and apprenticeship programs, fringe benefits, leave time, and other terms and conditions and privileges of employment. The major exception is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the particular business or enterprise.

II. Title I of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA)

This law makes it illegal to discriminate against a person because of a disability, or perceived disability, in all parts of the employment process. Specifically included as part of the employment process are job application procedures, the hiring, advancement or discharge of employees, employee compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment.

III. Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)

The ADEA makes it illegal to discriminate against a person because of their age, [40 years old or older; Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA) covers workers of any age].

IV. Equal Pay Act (EPA)

The EPA makes it illegal to discriminate against employees on the basis of sex, i.e., male or female, by paying wages to employees at a rate less than the rate at which the opposite sex is paid for equal work on jobs, the performance of which requires equal skill, effort, and responsibility, and which are performed under similar working conditions.

V. Chapter 57 of the Code of the City of Orlando (Chapter 57)

Chapter 57 makes it illegal to discriminate against an individual because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, familial status or sexual orientation (the condition of being heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual) in employment, the sale or rental of residential housing, and, public accommodation. (You must note that not all protected classes are covered under each area, i.e., employment, housing, public accommodation).

VI. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VIII)

This law is most commonly called the Fair Housing Act, under which it is illegal to discriminate against an individual in the sale or rental of residential housing because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status and national origin.

VII. Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA) [Enforced by the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR)]

This law prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, familial status and disability in employment, housing and public accommodations.

Additionally, individuals are protected from retaliation under Title VII, ADA, ADEA, EPA, Chapter 57 and the FCRA for (1)having filed a charge of discrimination, (2)having opposed any practice made an unlawful employment practice or (3)having testified, assisted or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding or hearing as per the law.

Further, individuals are protected from retaliation under Title VIII  and Chapter 57, both of which makes it unlawful to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of any right granted or protected by the law.