Title VII and other federal employment statutes apply to employers with at least 15 employees. Private employers, state and local governments, educational institutions, labor organizations with 15 or more employees or members.First, the Illinois Human Rights Act previously applied to employers with 15 or more employees. The manual contains a summary of Title VII of the. Title VII applies to employers in both the private and public sectors that have 15 or more employees. If successful in a retaliatory discharge claim, employees may receive several forms of relief. The protections of Title VII, ADEA and ADA apply only to employers with 15 or more employees. Want to learn more about workplace discrimination? Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, employment discrimination based on national origin is prohibited. An employer may not take into account the race or color of an employee in making an employment decision regarding that employee.