Title VII applies to employers with 15 or more employees. It defines an “employer” as a person engaged in an industry affecting commerce with 15 or more employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year. Those 20 weeks do not need to be consecutive.
The Civil Rights Act of 1991 amends several sections of Title VII to strengthen and improve Federal civil rights laws and provide for the recovery of compensatory damages in Federal sector cases of intentional employment discrimination.
What remedies/damages are available in a Title VII lawsuit? Plaintiffs have a right to jury trials under Title VII, and successful plaintiffs can be awarded lost wages (both past and future), mental/emotional distress (compensatory) damages, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees.
Examples of civil rights include the right to vote, the right to a fair trial, the right to government services, the right to a public education, the right to gainful employment, the right to housing, the right to use public facilities, freedom of religion.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act does not cover federal employees or independent contractors.