Disparate Treatment

Disparate Treatment in employment is intentional discrimination on the basis of a protected characteristic. Federal law prohibits disparate treatment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and age, as well as disability in qualified individuals who are disabled. Such discrimination, however, is permitted when an employer acts pursuant to a valid affirmative action plan or when an employer can demonstrate that religion, sex, national origin, or age is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the business. Disparate treatment may be distinguished from disparate impact, which occurs when a neutral employment practice has a disproportionate effect on members of a protected class.

See also Employment Discrimination.

Grant Hayden

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

KERMIT L. HALL. "Disparate Treatment." The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

KERMIT L. HALL. "Disparate Treatment." The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 9, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O184-DisparateTreatment.html

KERMIT L. HALL. "Disparate Treatment." The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States. 2005. Retrieved February 09, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O184-DisparateTreatment.html

Learn more about citation styles

Find thousands of answers for hundreds of subjects at Answers Encyclopedia .

All answers verified by trusted sources at Encyclopedia.com

Try Answers Encyclopedia now!

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including: