Courses / HR & Employment Law Basics
8. Protected characteristics
Personal attributes (e.g., race, gender, disability) that law typically protects against employment discrimination.
Foundations of HR & Employment Law for Talent Acquisition
Protected characteristics
Protected characteristics are personal traits that the law prohibits employers from using to discriminate against people.
"I need to screen and hire fairly without exposing my company to discrimination risk."
Protected characteristics are attributes like race, sex, disability, religion, age, and others that employment law commonly shields from adverse treatment in hiring and workplace decisions. Employers must avoid basing recruitment choices on these traits and instead evaluate candidates on job-related criteria.
"I need to screen and hire fairly without exposing my company to discrimination risk."
Protected characteristics are attributes like race, sex, disability, religion, age, and others that employment law commonly shields from adverse treatment in hiring and workplace decisions. Employers must avoid basing recruitment choices on these traits and instead evaluate candidates on job-related criteria.