Texas Business Lawyer

Is Your Business Covered by the EEOC

As a small business owner, or someone who is considering starting up your own business, it is extremely crucial to the livelihood of your business to be familiar with federal employment laws. The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission is the federal agency that monitors the compliance and handles complaints of discrimination in the workplace.

Do EEOC Laws Apply to Your Business?

Acts in the Fair Employment code apply to businesses of varying size, with their size being defined as their number of employees. Both the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits race, color, religion, sex, and national origin discrimination, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which prohibits employment discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities, apply to employers with 15 or more employees.

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 prohibits age discrimination against individuals who are forty years of age or older. The ADEA applies to employers with 20 or more employees. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 however, applies to most employers with one or more employees. It prohibits wage discrimination between men and women in substantially equal jobs within the same establishment.

Determining if Your Business is Covered by EEO laws

Part-time, temporary, and full time employees are all counted for purposes of determining whether an employer has a sufficient number of employees. An employee is defined as someone with whom the employer has an employment relationship. Independent contractors are not counted as employees.

You may need to consult with an experienced attorney to determine whether or not certain individuals who work for you are covered. Make sure that your hiring and employment practices are in line with federal laws.

Speak with an Austin Business Lawyer

Contact the Texas business lawyers of Slater, Kennon, & Jameson, LLP at 512.472.2431 today.