Which categories are protected under the anti-discrimination laws described?

Which categories are protected under the anti-discrimination laws described?

• A. Race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age 40 or older, disability, and genetic information
• B. Height and eye color
• C. Political affiliation
• D. Credit score

Answer: (A)

Protected categories are characteristics that federal and many state anti-discrimination laws prohibit using to treat someone unfavorably in employment and related areas. The categories listed—race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age 40 or older, disability, and genetic information—are the standard protected classes these laws cover. They exist to ensure fair opportunity and prevent bias in hiring, promotion, and other decisions. Choices like height and eye color, political affiliation, or credit score aren’t considered protected characteristics under these anti-discrimination laws, so decisions based solely on those attributes aren’t automatically illegal under the protected-class framework described.

Protected categories are characteristics that federal and many state anti-discrimination laws prohibit using to treat someone unfavorably in employment and related areas. The categories listed—race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age 40 or older, disability, and genetic information—are the standard protected classes these laws cover. They exist to ensure fair opportunity and prevent bias in hiring, promotion, and other decisions.

Choices like height and eye color, political affiliation, or credit score aren’t considered protected characteristics under these anti-discrimination laws, so decisions based solely on those attributes aren’t automatically illegal under the protected-class framework described.