Virginia
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 Virginia.
Virginia
race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists)
color
national origin
sex/gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding/lactation, and related conditions)
gender identity
sexual orientation
age (40 and older)
disability
genetic information
- religion
Applicable Laws
Virginia
The primary state laws prohibiting employment discrimination, including harassment, are the Virginia Human Rights Act and the Virginians with Disabilities Act. Additionally, Va. Code. Ann. § 40.1-28.7:1 prohibits discrimination on the basis of genetic information.
Filing a Claim in Virginia
An employment discrimination or harassment claim may be filed with the Virginia Council on Human Rights (phone: 804-225-2292), 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.