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The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces federal laws prohibiting discrimination against a job applicant or employee during a variety of work situations including hiring, firing, promotions, training, wages and benefits. Many state laws offer more protections against employment-related discrimination.
To address the gender pay gap and ensure pay equity in the workplace, most states have implemented laws that seek to eliminate pay differentials based on the employees’ sex. Most states have also passed legislation protecting employees from age discrimination in the workplace.
Various rulings by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission extend Title VII's prohibition on sex discrimination to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Under state law, protections vary depending on definitions or based on court interpretations.
Although federal law says it is unlawful to harass a person because of that person’s sex, many state legislatures are looking to go beyond federal regulations to prevent workplace sexual harassment.