What is the minimum number of employees an employer must have to be subject to Title VII coverage?

What is the minimum number of employees an employer must have to be subject to Title VII coverage?

• A. 10
• B. 15
• C. 25
• D. 20

Answer: (B)

Title VII applies to employers with fifteen or more employees. This threshold means that once an employer has fifteen or more workers, the anti-discrimination rules—prohibiting discrimination in hiring, firing, compensation, and other terms of employment—kick in. The number is set to cover a substantial portion of the private sector while avoiding imposing federal compliance burdens on very small businesses. If an employer has fewer than fifteen employees, Title VII typically does not apply, though there can be other protections under state laws or in specific contexts (such as for certain employers like labor unions or employment agencies, which have their own thresholds).

Title VII applies to employers with fifteen or more employees. This threshold means that once an employer has fifteen or more workers, the anti-discrimination rules—prohibiting discrimination in hiring, firing, compensation, and other terms of employment—kick in. The number is set to cover a substantial portion of the private sector while avoiding imposing federal compliance burdens on very small businesses. If an employer has fewer than fifteen employees, Title VII typically does not apply, though there can be other protections under state laws or in specific contexts (such as for certain employers like labor unions or employment agencies, which have their own thresholds).