THE EQUAL PAY ACT OF 1963
This law prohibits paying workers of one sex at a rate that is different from that paid
to the other sex when the work is the same. This prohibition
also covers fringe benefits, overtime, sick and vacation leave,
insurance, profit sharing and just about any tangible form of
compensation that can be identified. This act was clearly designed
to offset the traditional practices of paying women less than
men for the same work.
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THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 (TITLE VII)
This law prohibits discrimination
in employment on the basis of race, color, sex, religion or national
origin. This law was:
This is the flagship in the
fleet of EEO and civil rights laws and regulations. Any meaningful
changes in basic EEO requirements will, in all likelihood, be
considered in terms of the provisions of this Act.
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THE EEO ACT OF 1972 (PUBLIC LAW 92-261)
This law amended the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 to include Federal, city and local employment
under the provisions of Title VII of the act. As a result, civil
suits can now be filed against the Federal government by individuals
alleging discriminatory treatment.
The act also established the
requirement that Federal agencies maintain affirmative employment
programs by developing affirmative employment plans to ensure
enforcement of Federal equal employment opportunity policy.
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AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 1967
This law prohibits discrimination
on the basis of age against persons between the ages of 40 and
70 except in the Federal government where there is no upper age
limit and the law applies to all persons 40 and above (based upon
a 1978 amendment).
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THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973
This law prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of handicap (physical or mental). It requires reasonable accommodation efforts and affirmative action
to employ and advance qualified handicapped individuals.
In 1986, Congress reauthorized
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, mandating that all electronic
office equipment brought or leased by the federal government after
September 30, 1988, be accessible to disabled end users who need
the equipment.
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THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 1978
Title III of this law requires
each Federal agency to implement special recruitment programs
to eliminate underrepresentation of minorities and women in the
Federal workforce.
It establishes diversity in
the Federal workforce as a requirement to be met in order to ensure
that
"... THE NATION'S WORKFORCE
REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF THE NATION AS A WHOLE."
This law also changed lead
responsibility for EEO matters from the Office of Personnel Management
(OPM) to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).