Most employers with at least 15 employees are covered by EEOC laws (20 employees in age discrimination cases). Most labor unions and employment agencies are also covered. The laws apply to all types of work situations, including hiring, firing, promotions, harassment, training, wages, and benefits.
Simply put, Title VII does not apply to every employer. In fact, as a general rule, it typically only covers private and public sector employers with 15 or more employees.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act It defines an “employer” as a person engaged in an industry affecting commerce with 15 or more employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year. Those 20 weeks do not need to be consecutive.
The federal EEOC has jurisdiction over employers with 15 or more employees for most matters. The DFEH, however, can take enforcement action against any business with 5 or more employees on the payroll, pursuant to the state's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).
For example, religious organizations are exempt because hiring people from other religions could be at odds with their mission. A larger exception is that many small businesses and labor organizations are exempt from the EEOC guidelines if they have fewer than a certain number of employees.
If you have at least 100 employees or if you are a federal contractor with at least 50 employees and at least $50,000 in government contracts: You must report data about the ethnicity, race and gender of your workforce to the government.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act does not cover federal employees or independent contractors. However, federal employees are protected against discrimination by other federal anti-discrimination laws.
Most employers with at least 15 employees are covered by EEOC laws (20 employees in age discrimination cases). Most labor unions and employment agencies are also covered. The laws apply to all types of work situations, including hiring, firing, promotions, harassment, training, wages, and benefits.
Simply put, Title VII does not apply to every employer. In fact, as a general rule, it typically only covers private and public sector employers with 15 or more employees.