This page lists what Title VII asks of employers, key deadlines and caps, and changes since 2023. For the basics, see the Title VII overview.
What the law requires
| Requirement | In plain words | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| No discrimination | No bias in hiring, firing, pay, promotion, training or benefits because of race, color, religion, sex or national origin | Sec. 703(a) |
| No retaliation | No punishing someone who opposes a practice they reasonably believe is unlawful, files a charge or joins an investigation | Sec. 704(a) |
| Job ads | No ad stating a preference or limit based on a protected trait, except a narrow job-qualification exception; the EEOC counts a nationality or visa-status preference | Sec. 704(b) |
| Religion | Reasonably accommodate sincere religious practices unless the burden is substantial | Sec. 701(j); Groff v. DeJoy (2023) |
| Pregnancy | Treat pregnancy and related conditions like other temporary limits on ability to work | Sec. 701(k) |
| Harassment | An employer's liability can turn on reasonable prevention and prompt correction | EEOC harassment page |
| Poster and records | Post the EEOC notice; keep personnel records 1 year, and relevant records until a charge is finally resolved | 29 CFR 1601.30, 1602.14 |
Key numbers and dates
| Item | Amount or date | Year in force | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee threshold | 15, for 20 or more calendar weeks | Current statute | Sec. 701(b) |
| EEOC charge deadline | 180 days; 300 days where a state or local agency enforces a similar law (Illinois: 300 days) | Current | EEOC pages |
| Suit after EEOC notice | 90 days | Current statute | Sec. 706(f)(1) |
| Damages cap | $50,000 to $300,000, by employer size | Fixed in 1991, not indexed | 42 U.S.C. 1981a(b)(3) |
| Poster fine | Up to $698 per separate offense | Adjusted Sept 30, 2025 | 29 CFR 1601.30 |
The EEOC's poster web page may show an older fine ($680); the regulation sets $698, with no 2026 inflation adjustment.
- Title VII enacted
- Bostock: firing for being gay or transgender violates Title VII
- Groff: religious accommodation standard
- Muldrow: transfer claims need only some harm
- Ames: same test for every plaintiff
- EEOC rescinds 2024 harassment guidance
- EEO-1 rescission proposed
Source: EEOC and U.S. Supreme Court opinions
Recent and pending changes
- June 27, 2023 (final): the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act took effect, with an EEOC rule effective June 18, 2024. Court orders limit enforcement for certain parties, and a Louisiana federal court vacated the rule's abortion-related provisions on May 21, 2025; check the EEOC for current status.
- Jan 21, 2025 (final): Executive Order 14173 revoked Executive Order 11246, the federal contractor affirmative-action order. DOL's rule rescinding its regulations took effect Oct 26, 2026.
- Jan 22, 2026 (final): the EEOC voted 2-1 to rescind its 2024 harassment guidance, after a Texas court vacated parts on May 15, 2025. The statute is unchanged.
Penalties and enforcement
The EEOC investigates, tries to settle and sues private employers; the Department of Justice sues state and local governments. A worker files a charge online, in person, by letter or through a state agency. The EEOC may offer mediation before any suit.
| Employer size (20 or more weeks) | Cap on compensatory plus punitive damages |
|---|---|
| 15 to 100 employees | $50,000 |
| 101 to 200 employees | $100,000 |
| 201 to 500 employees | $200,000 |
| More than 500 employees | $300,000 |
The caps leave out back pay and reinstatement-type relief. Punitive damages are not available against government employers. See also the Illinois Human Rights Act, the FLSA and the checklist and FAQs.
Official sources
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Time limits for filing a charge
- Cornell Law School: 42 U.S.C. 1981a, damages in discrimination cases
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: 29 CFR 1601.30, the EEOC poster rule
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: EEO data collections
This page is a plain-language summary. The official source controls if there is any difference.