Who does the EEO Act of 1972 apply to?

The Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Act of 1972 extends the provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This legislation is specifically targeted at preventing discrimination in the workplace based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

The Act applies to employers with 15 or more employees. This threshold was established to ensure that a significant number of employees are covered by the federal anti-discrimination laws. By focusing on employers of this size, the law aims to address discrimination within larger employment contexts, where the impact of such practices can be more widespread and detrimental to the workforce.

Smaller employers with fewer than 15 employees are generally not subject to these specific EEO provisions, which is why the other options do not align with the requirements set forth by the EEO Act. The legislation aims to balance the need for preventing discrimination with the practical considerations of businesses, especially smaller entities, which may face greater hardships in navigating the complexities of employment law.