We hear a lot about “protected groups,” but what are they? Quite simply, a protected group is a set of people qualified for special protection by a law, policy, or similar authority; it is frequently used in connection with hiring and employment. Some examples would be racial and ethnic minorities, the elderly (or any particular age group for that matter) ,and groups defined by religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disabilities, etc. Some of the most common protected groups are:
But are other groups/classes protected? Yes, they are; if not by federal statute or policy then by state or local laws or policies.
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