Pennsylvania
Overview
Please review the information below as well as the information on the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity page and then return to the workplace harassment prevention course tab.
Harassment and discrimination based on a protected characteristic are prohibited under both federal and state law. The federal government and most state governments have agencies that help employers and employees understand these legal requirements and ensure compliance with the laws.
Protected Characteristics
Harassment or discrimination based on any protected characteristic set forth below is prohibited under state law in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania
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race (including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists that are historically associated with race)
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color
- familial status
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national origin
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ancestry
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sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, breastfeeding, sex assigned at birth, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, gender transition or transgender identity, and differences of sex development, variation of sex characteristics, or other intersex characteristics)
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genetic information
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age (40 or older)
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non-job related handicap or disability
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religious creed (including religious observance, practice and belief)
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status as a user of a guide or support animal due to disability or as a handler or training of such animals
Applicable Laws
Pennsylvania
The primary state law prohibiting employment discrimination, including harassment, is the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
Filing a Claim in Pennsylvania
An employment discrimination or harassment claim may be filed with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, and/or the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, depending on the employer’s size and the protected characteristic on which the claim is based. More information on federal law prohibiting employment discrimination and harassment is available on the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity page.
Retaliation Prohibited
Employer retaliation against an employee who files a discrimination or harassment complaint or is involved in the complaint process is unlawful.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only.
It does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice.