Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Title VII is the cornerstone of American workplace-discrimination law. It makes it illegal for a covered employer to treat you worse because of your race, color, religion, sex, or national origin — across virtually every aspect of a job, from hiring and firing to pay, promotions, and day-to-day treatment.

It reaches more than obvious, intentional bias. Under Griggs v. Duke Power, a policy that looks neutral but disproportionately harms a protected group can be illegal unless the employer shows it’s truly job-related and necessary. And it covers harassment severe or pervasive enough to create a hostile work environment.

The definition of “sex” has grown through the courts. It already included pregnancy (via the Pregnancy Discrimination Act), and in 2020 the Supreme Court held in Bostock that it also covers sexual orientation and gender identity.

Title VII is enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Before you can sue, you generally have to file a charge with the EEOC first — and the deadline is short, often 180 days (up to 300 in many states). If you think you were discriminated against, that clock is the first thing to watch.