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Puerto Rico (PR) Job Discrimination Law in the Workplace

September 20th, 2006 Posted by Rachel

If you work in Puerto Rico you are protected from discrimination and harassment in the course of employment by the US federal statutes. In the past, discrimination and the lack of enforcement have been large problems in Puerto Rico. Since 2001, with the instatement of a local Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) office, employers are thinking twice about the fairness and equality of their employment practices. Puerto Rico (PR) job discrimination law in the workplace covers harassment as well.

The federal statutes that are covered under Puerto Rico (PR) job discrimination law in the workplace are Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin and applies to hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training, classification, referral, and other aspects of employment. Along these lines is the Equal Pay Act that says gender alone cannot be a factor when it comes to pay, benefits or other terms that are offered through the course of employment. This means that a person cannot be paid more or offered a promotion just because they are a man, or a woman. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 protects certain applicants and employees 40 years of age and older from discrimination on the basis of age. Employers cannot show a preference when advertising or recruiting for a job, nor can they deny promotions or try to force early retirement based on the age of an individual.

Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits employers of 15 or more workers, employment agencies, and labor organizations of 15 or more workers from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities and is enforced through Puerto Rico (PR) job discrimination law in the workplace. Employers should make reasonable accommodations whenever possible so that someone who is disabled may have the same opportunities as another.