Equal Employment Opportunity is the LAW
Employers Holding Federal Contracts or Subcontracts
Applicants to and employees of companies with a Federal government contract or subcontract are protected under the following Federal authorities:
Race, Color, Religion, Sex, National Origin
Executive Order 11246, as amended, prohibits job discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, and requires affirmative action to ensure equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment.
Individuals with Disabilities
Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, prohibits job discrimination because of disability and requires affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities who, with reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of a job.
Disabled, Recently Separated, Active Wartime or Campaign Badge, Armed Service Medal Veterans
The Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended, 38 U.S.C. 4212, prohibits job discrimination and requires affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified covered veterans. Disabled veterans, recently separated veterans (veterans within 3 years of their discharge or release from active duty), veterans who served on active duty during a war or a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, and Armed Forces service medal veterans are covered under VEVRAA.
Retaliation
Retaliation is prohibited against a person who files a charge of discrimination, participates in an OFCCP proceeding, or otherwise opposes discrimination under these Federal laws.
Any person who believes a contractor has violated its nondiscrimination or affirmative action obligations under the authorities above should contact immediately:
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)
Employment Standards Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210
866-487-2365
or call an OFCCP regional or district office listed in most telephone directories under U.S. Government, Department of Labor. For individuals with hearing impairment, OFCCP’s TTY number is 877-889-5627.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Additional information has been prepared for beneficiaries of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) funded programs, including students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to increase awareness of their rights under civil rights laws such as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, and to assist administrators and professional staff, such as faculty, in understanding and executing their roles and responsibilities under the law.
- Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity in NASA Assisted Programs: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Related Laws
- Equal Opportunity in NASA Assisted Programs
Private Employment, State and Local Governments, Educational Institutions, Employment Agencies, and Labor Organizations
Applicants to and employees of most private employers, state and local governments, educational institutions, employment agencies and labor organizations are protected under the following Federal laws:
Race, Color, Religion, Sex, National Origin
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, prohibits discrimination in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training, classification, referral, and other aspects of employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. Religious discrimination includes failing to reasonably accommodate an employee’s religious practices where the accommodation does not impose undue hardship.
Disability
Title I and Title V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, protect qualified applicants and employees with disabilities from discrimination in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, job training, fringe benefits, classification, referral, and other aspects of employment on the basis of disability.
The law also requires that covered entities provide qualified applicants and employees with disabilities with reasonable accommodations, unless such accommodations would impose undue hardship on the employer.
Age
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, protects applicants and employees 40 years of age or older from discrimination on the basis of age in hiring, promotion, discharge, compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.
Sex (Wages)
In addition to sex discrimination prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended, prohibits sex discrimination in payment of wages to women and men performing substantially equal work, in jobs that require equal skill, effort, and responsibility under similar working conditions, in the same establishment.
GENETICS
Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 protects applicants and employees from discrimination based on genetic information in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, benefits, and other aspects of employment. GINA also restricts employers’ acquisition of genetic information and limits disclosure of genetic information. Genetic information includes information about genetic tests of applicants, employees, or their family members; the manifestation of diseases or disorders in family members (family medical history); and requests for or receipt of genetic services by applicants, employees, or their family members.
Please do not provide any genetic information on this form or if you are asked to provide medical information to support your request for accommodation. Federal law prohibits employers from requesting genetic information of an employee or an employee’s family member unless an exception applies. ‘Genetic information’ includes your family medical history, the results of your or your family member’s genetic tests, the fact that you or your family member sought or received genetic services, and genetic information of a fetus or embryo.
Retaliation
Retaliation is prohibited against a person who files a charge of discrimination, participates in a discrimination proceeding, or otherwise opposes discrimination under these Federal laws.
If you believe that you have been discriminated against under any of the above laws, and to ensure that you meet strict procedural timelines to preserve the ability of the EEOC to investigate your complaint and protect your right to file a private lawsuit, you should immediately contact:
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
131 M Street, NE
Washington, DC 20507
or an EEOC field office by calling toll free 1-800-669-4000. For individuals with hearing impairments, EEOC’s toll free TTY number is 1-800-669-6820.
Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
Race, Color, Religion, Sex, National Origin
In addition to the protection of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance. Employment discrimination is covered by Title VI if the primary objective of the financial assistance is provision of employment, or where employment discrimination causes or may cause discrimination in providing services under such programs.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs or activities which receive Federal assistance.
Individuals with Disabilities
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity which receives Federal financial assistance in the federal government, public or private agency. Discrimination is prohibited in all aspects of employment against disabled persons who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of a job.
If you believe you have been discriminated against in a program of any institution which receives Federal assistance, you should contact immediately the Federal agency providing such assistance.
Publication OFCCP 1420
Revised August 2008
The Title IX Coordinator for Boston University is the Executive Director of Equal Opportunity, Kim Randall. The Equal Opportunity Office is located at 888 Commonwealth Ave, Suite 303, Boston, MA 02215, 617-353-9286.