--- title: What Are Protected Classes? description: What Are Protected Classes? image: https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/discrimination-scaled.jpg --- - [Secure File Transfer](https://affiliatedpayroll.myfileguardian.com/PostOffice/Main.aspx) - [Employee Log-In](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/employee-login/) - [Employer Log-In](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/client-login-portals/) [Request A Quote](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/request-a-quote/) [![Affiliated HR & Payroll Services](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Affiliated_HR_Payroll_Services_June2024/images/Affiliated-HR-Payroll-logo-dark.png?width=310&height=250&name=Affiliated-HR-Payroll-logo-dark.png "Affiliated HR & Payroll Services")](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/) - [About](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/about/) - Solutions - [HR Services](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/) - [Employee Self Service](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/employee-self-service/) - [Employee Handbook](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/employee-handbook/) - [HR Support Center](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/hr-support-center/) - [Performance Reviews](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/performance-reviews/) - [Labor Law Posters](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/labor-law-posters/) - [Unemployment Claims Management](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/unemployment-claims-management/) - [E-Verify](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/e-verify/) - [Payroll Solutions](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/) - [Tax Services](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/tax-services/) - [General Ledger](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/general-ledger/) - [Report Writer](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/report-writer/) - [Paycheck Options](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/paycheck-options/) - [POS Interfaces](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/pos-interfaces/) - [Certified Payroll](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/certified-payroll/) - [Tax Credits](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/tax-credits/) - [Time & Labor Management Services](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/) - [Timekeeping](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/timekeeping/) - [Time Off Requests](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/time-off-requests/) - [Scheduling](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/scheduling/) - [Time Clocks](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/time-clocks/) - [Benefits Services](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/) - [Health Benefit Administration](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/health-benefit-administration/) - [ACA Compliance](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/aca-comliance/) - [Section 125](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/section-125/) - [COBRA Administration](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/cobra-administration/) - [Talent Solutions](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/) - [Recruitment & Applicant Tracking](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/recruitment-applicant-tracking/) - [Background Screening](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/background-screening/) - [Employee Onboarding](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/employee-onboarding/) - [Employee Engagement](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/employee-engagement/) - [Platform](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/platform/) - [Resources](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/resources/) - [Partners](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/partners/) - [Blog](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com) - [Contact Us](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/contact-us/) - [About](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/about/) - Solutions - [HR Services](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/) - [Employee Self Service](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/employee-self-service/) - [Employee Handbook](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/employee-handbook/) - [HR Support Center](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/hr-support-center/) - [Performance Reviews](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/performance-reviews/) - [Labor Law Posters](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/labor-law-posters/) - [Unemployment Claims Management](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/unemployment-claims-management/) - [E-Verify](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/e-verify/) - [Payroll Solutions](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/) - [Tax Services](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/tax-services/) - [General Ledger](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/general-ledger/) - [Report Writer](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/report-writer/) - [Paycheck Options](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/paycheck-options/) - [POS Interfaces](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/pos-interfaces/) - [Certified Payroll](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/certified-payroll/) - [Tax Credits](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/tax-credits/) - [Time & Labor Management Services](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/) - [Timekeeping](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/timekeeping/) - [Time Off Requests](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/time-off-requests/) - [Scheduling](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/scheduling/) - [Time Clocks](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/time-clocks/) - [Benefits Services](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/) - [Health Benefit Administration](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/health-benefit-administration/) - [ACA Compliance](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/aca-comliance/) - [Section 125](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/section-125/) - [COBRA Administration](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/cobra-administration/) - [Talent Solutions](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/) - [Recruitment & Applicant Tracking](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/recruitment-applicant-tracking/) - [Background Screening](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/background-screening/) - [Employee Onboarding](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/employee-onboarding/) - [Employee Engagement](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/employee-engagement/) - [Platform](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/platform/) - [Resources](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/resources/) - [Partners](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/partners/) - [Blog](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com) - [Contact Us](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/contact-us/) ![What Are Protected Classes?](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/discrimination-scaled.jpg) # What Are Protected Classes? - Home - [Affiliated HR Payroll Blog](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com) - What Are Protected Classes? [Afilliated HR & Payroll](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/author/ahrp-admin) 10/12/2021 [Alert](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/alert) [0 Comments](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/what-are-protected-classes#postComment) 1 Minutes Protected classes — also sometimes called protected characteristics — come from anti-discrimination law. We talk about them with respect to employment laws, but they also come into play in housing and education. The classes and characteristics protected by federal law include race, color, age (over 40), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, religion, disability, national origin, ethnic background, genetic information (including that of family members), military service, and citizenship or immigration status. While you have a lot of leeway to make employment decisions as you see fit, you are prohibited from making decisions based on a person’s inclusion in any of these protected classes. Refusing to hire or promote someone because they are over 40, gay, or from Mexico, for example, would be considered unlawful discrimination under federal law. Many states also have their own anti-discrimination laws that protect additional classes. The best way to avoid discrimination is to base employment decisions only on factors that are job-related. We recommend including the full list of protected classes in your employee handbook so that everyone is aware of them. --- #### Tag: [Alert](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/alert) #### Share: - [Follow us on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/what-are-protected-classes) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/what-are-protected-classes&text=What%20Are%20Protected%20Classes) - [Follow us on Linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/what-are-protected-classes) - [Follow us on Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/what-are-protected-classes&text=What%20Are%20Protected%20Classes?description=Protected%20classes%20—%20also%20sometimes%20called%20protected%20characteristics%20—%20come%20from%20anti-discrimination%20law.%20We%20talk%20about%20them%20with%20respect%20to%20employment%20laws,[...]&media=https://45831542.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/45831542/Imported_Blog_Media/discrimination-scaled.jpg) --- #### [Biden's Announcement: Mandatory Vaccinations for Private Employers Previous Post](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/bidens-announcement-about-mandatory-vaccinations-for-private-employers) #### [Business Payroll Tax: Basics, Components and Calculations Next Post](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/business-payroll-tax-basics-components-and-calculations) --- ## Related Posts [Law Alert](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/law-alert), [COVID-19 Vaccine](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/covid-19-vaccine), [COVID-19](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/covid-19), [Alert](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/alert) [Afilliated HR & Payroll](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/author/ahrp-admin) 26 January, 2024 #### [Law Alert: Texas Prohibits Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/law-alert-texas-prohibits-mandatory-covid-19-vaccination) As of February 6, 2024, Texas will prohibit employers of all sizes from adopting or enforcing a… [Read More](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/law-alert-texas-prohibits-mandatory-covid-19-vaccination) [Payroll Tax Rates](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/payroll-tax-rates), [Benefits & Compensation](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/benefits-compensation), [2024 Contribution Limits](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/2024-contribution-limits), [Alert](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/alert), [Contribution Limits](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/contribution-limits) [Afilliated HR & Payroll](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/author/ahrp-admin) 03 January, 2024 #### [Payroll Tax Rates and Contribution Limits for 2024](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/payroll-tax-rates-and-contribution-limits-for-2024) Below are federal payroll tax rates and benefits contribution limits for 2024. [Read More](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/payroll-tax-rates-and-contribution-limits-for-2024) [EEOC](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/eeoc), [Equal Employment Opportunity Commission](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/equal-employment-opportunity-commission), [Alert](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/alert) [Afilliated HR & Payroll](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/author/ahrp-admin) 18 October, 2023 #### [Federal Law Alert: EEO-1 Reporting Opens October 31](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/federal-law-alert-federal-eeo-1-reporting-opens-october-31) The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced that 2022 EEO-1 Component 1 data… [Read More](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/federal-law-alert-federal-eeo-1-reporting-opens-october-31) ![Affiliated HR Payroll](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Affiliated_HR_Payroll_Services_June2024/Images/Affiliated-HR-Payroll-logo-light.png?width=750&name=Affiliated-HR-Payroll-logo-light.png "Affiliated HR Payroll") [![Accredited Business](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Affiliated_HR_Payroll_Services_June2024/Images/blue-seal-293-61-whitetxt-bbb-90053136.png?width=293&name=blue-seal-293-61-whitetxt-bbb-90053136.png "Accredited Business")](https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/stafford/profile/payroll-services/affiliated-payroll-services-0915-90053136/#sealclick) ![Satisfaction Stamp](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Affiliated_HR_Payroll_Services_June2024/Images/100-satisfaction-stamp.png?width=160&name=100-satisfaction-stamp.png "Satisfaction Stamp") ![Isolved-Network](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Affiliated_HR_Payroll_Services_June2024/Images/Isolved-Network.png?width=451&name=Isolved-Network.png "Isolved-Network") #### RESOURCES & LINKS - [AHRP Resources](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/resources/) - [Blog](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/) - [Request A Quote](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/request-a-quote/) - [Employer Log-In](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/client-login-portals/) - [Employee Log-In](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/employee-login/) - [Secure File Transfer](https://affiliatedpayroll.myfileguardian.com/PostOffice/Main.aspx) - [Privacy/Terms of Use](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/privacy-terms-of-use/) [![facebook](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Affiliated_HR_Payroll_Services_June2024/Images/icon-facebook.png?width=100&name=icon-facebook.png "facebook")](https://www.facebook.com/AffiliatedHRPayroll/) [![Youtube](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Affiliated_HR_Payroll_Services_June2024/Images/icon-youtube.png?width=100&name=icon-youtube.png "Youtube")](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxFmvmFA1inMJk28v4QlTNA) #### NEWSLETTER SIGNUP © 2026 Affiliated HR & Payroll [All Rights Reserved.](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/privacy-terms-of-use/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Afilliated HR & Payroll", "url" : "https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/author/ahrp-admin" }, "dateModified" : "2024-07-16T13:50:24.589Z", "datePublished" : "2021-10-12T18:19:41.000Z", "headline" : "What Are Protected Classes?", "image" : [ "https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/discrimination-scaled.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/what-are-protected-classes", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hubfs/Affiliated%20Logos/Affiliated-HR-Payroll-logo-dark.png" } } } ```