Social & labour

Equal Employment Opportunity

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Definition

Equal Employment Opportunity is the principle, codified in US law by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, that employment decisions must not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin (later extended to age, disability, pregnancy and other grounds). The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), established under Title VII and given litigation authority by the EEO Act of 1972, enforces these laws.

References

Cornell Law School (Wex)Equal Employment Opportunity Commission — Title VII basis, enforcement role

legal basis, protected classes, 1972 Act, McDonnell Douglas framework

Overview

What it means

EEO prohibits both intentional discrimination (disparate treatment, with the McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting framework) and practices with unjustified disparate impact. It anchors affirmative-action debates and employer reporting duties, and supplies much of the legal vocabulary for workplace equity.

How it is used

Used in HR compliance, discrimination litigation, federal-contractor obligations and workforce disclosure on diversity.

Why it matters

EEO law is the foundation of formal workplace equality in the US and a reference point for global DEI practice.