Protected Class
Protected Class / Protected Characteristics
Groups protected from employment discrimination under federal and state laws. Federal protected classes include race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age (40+), disability, and genetic information. States add additional protections for sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, and others.
Why This Matters for Employers
AI bias audits must test for disparate impact on protected classes. NYC LL144 specifically requires testing for race/ethnicity and sex. Algorithms trained on biased data may discriminate against protected classes even without explicit use of protected characteristics. Proxy variables can reveal protected status.
Related Laws & Regulations
Examples in Practice
How EmployArmor Helps
Understanding Protected Class is just the first step. EmployArmor helps you implement compliance for all AI hiring regulations.
Compliance Assessment
Find out which laws apply to your AI hiring tools and what you need to do to comply.
Documentation Templates
Get ready-to-use templates for impact assessments, notifications, and audit preparation.