Federal Executive Orders
E.O. 11246 (1965)
This provides that all federal contracts of a certain amount must contain provisions prohibiting discrimination on the bases of race, color, religion, or national origin. This Executive Order requires both equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. Federal contractors are required to develop, and annually update, an Affirmative Action Plan, which includes goals and timetables for the increased utilization of minorities and women. In addition, firms having non-construction government contracts must keep and make available records of work force analyses prepared separately for minorities and women for use in compliance reviews of their Affirmative Action Plans.
E.O. 11375 (1967)
This added sex discrimination provisions to to E.O.11246 sections 202 and 203.
E.O. 11141 (1964)
This provides for nondiscrimination on the basis of age as a contractual requirement.
E.O. 11758 (1974)
This provides for federal contracts to contain provisions requiring federal contractors to foster the employment of qualified handicapped persons.
State & Local Laws
Pennsylvania Human Relations Act
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act states that it is the policy of the Commonwealth to "foster the employment of all individuals in accordance with their fullest capacities regardless of their race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, handicap or disability, use of guide or support animals because of the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals, and to safeguard their right to obtain and hold employment without such discrimination, to assure equal opportunities to all individuals and to safeguard their rights to public accommodations and to secure housing accommodation and commercial property regardless of race, color, familial status, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, handicap or disability, use of guide or support animals because of blindness or deafness of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer of guide or support animals."
Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act
The act states that it is the policy of the Commonwealth "that all persons shall have equal opportunities for education regardless of their race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, handicap or disability."
Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinances (PDF)
This ordinance states that no employer in the City of Philadelphia shall discriminate against any employee or applicant in the terms or conditions of employment on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, or handicap.