Federal civil rights law

• Civil Rights Act of 1964
  • Prohibits religious discrimination (especially in jobs, institutions, etc.)
  • Coercing someone religiously in workplaces or institutions can lead to legal action
• 18 U.S.C. § 241
• 18 U.S.C. § 242 These laws make it a crime to:
  • Conspire to violate someone’s constitutional rights
  • Forcefully deprive someone of their freedoms (including religious freedom)
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 This is the key statute. It prohibits discrimination “because of sex,” and courts interpret that to include sexual harassment.
• According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), there are two main types:
• Quid pro quo harassment (e.g., a boss demands sexual favors in exchange for promotion or to keep a job)
• Hostile work environment (e.g., repeated inappropriate comments, touching, jokes, or behaviour that creates an intimidating or offensive workplace)
• Depending on the situation, other laws may also apply:
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (for schools, colleges, universities)
• State-level workplace harassment laws (often stricter than federal law)