The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission Expands Definitions of Protected Classes

As many of you know, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) enforces Pennsylvania laws that prohibit discrimination in the workplace based on race, color, age, sex, ancestry, national origin, religion, and disability, and also prohibits retaliation. 

The PHRC has announced new regulations that became effective August 16, 2023, expanding the definitions of some of the protected classes including sex, religious creed, and race. While the changes to the definitions of sex and religious creed were done to track Title VII’s definition (i.e., sexual orientation and failure to provide reasonable accommodations for religious beliefs), the most notable change is to the definition of race which now encompasses traits historically associated with race including hair texture and hairstyle (including braids, locs, and twists).  

While new regulations do exist in Pennsylvania, employers do not need to revise their handbooks or anti-discrimination policies to include these additional definitions. However, employers may need to review any policies concerning appearance in the workplace to ensure the policy is compliant with the PHRA’s updated definition of race.  

For questions regarding the PHRC’s new regulations or any other labor and employment matter, please contact any of the attorneys at Hoffman & Hlavac. To stay updated on key labor and employment law developments that affect your workplace, be sure to subscribe to this blog and follow us on social media!