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What are the "protected classes" under discrimination law?

Federal and state anti-discrimination laws prohibit discrimination based on your membership in a "protected class."  Protected classes include race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age (over 40), pregnancy, disability, and perceived disability.

In addition to these federally protected classes, Massachusetts employment law prohibits discriminating on the basis of:
  • Gender Identity 
  • Sexual Orientation 
  • Genetic Information
  • Ancestry
Being "protected" does not make you immune from termination, but it does mean that if you raise a question about discrimination based on one of these characteristics, your employer will need to demonstrate a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for its actions. 

You could be in more than one protected class, and in fact many people are.  The discriminatory motive could be based on just one, or on a combination.  For example, if you are older and have a medical condition, the underlying issue could be both age and disability. 

Learn more here about employment discrimination in Massachusetts.

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  • Home
  • Estate Planning
    • Massachusetts Wills and Trusts
    • Why You Need an Estate Plan
    • Massachusetts Estate Tax
    • Inheritance Tax
    • How to Make an Estate Plan
  • Employment Law Solutions
    • Employment Law MA
    • Employment Termination
    • Sexual Harassment at Work >
      • Sexual Harassment in a Small Business
      • Sexual Harassment and Non Disclosure Agreements
      • Sexual Harassment and Remote Work
    • Wage and Hour Laws
    • Independent Contractor Law
    • Non Compete Agreements >
      • Are non competes enforceable
      • Massachusetts Non Compete Act
      • Pre 2018 Massachusetts Non Competes
    • Equal Pay Act
  • Business Law Solutions
    • Small Business Law
    • Business Contract Basics
    • Civil Suit Defense
    • Legal Issues for Start Ups
    • Trademark Basics
    • How to Incorporate
    • Sale of Business
  • Attorneys
    • Emily Smith-Lee >
      • 2018 Lawyer of the Year
    • Jenna Ordway
    • Rebecca Rogers
    • Stowell Simonton
    • Elijah Bresley
  • Reviews
  • Blog
  • Contact