It applies to all private employers and labor organizations, but not federal, state, or local government employers. Section 1981 is enforced by individuals, not a federal agency.
Section 1981, which is codified at 42 U.S.C. 1981, protects the equal right of all persons to make and enforce contracts without respect to race.
2001) (“Although claims against individual supervisors are not permitted under Title VII, this court has found individual liability under § 1981 when the defendants intentionally cause an infringement of rights protected by Section 1981, regardless of whether the employer may also be held liable."); Al-Khazraji v.
An individual engages in protected activity when they: (1) oppose a practice they consider to be discriminatory; (2) participate in an employment discrimination proceeding; or (3) engage in other protected EEO activity.
Also, Title VII applies only to employers with 15 or more employees, whereas Section 1981 imposes no such limitation. Employees cannot be sued under Title VII, but they can be sued under Section 1981.
§ 1981a(b)(3)) caps the amount of “compensatory damages awarded … for future pecuniary losses, emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and other nonpecuniary losses, and the amount of punitive damages” to between $50,000 and $300,000, depending on the size of the employer.
While similar in protecting against unjust discrimination, Section 1981 differs from Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
If you believe your employment rights have been violated you can either call the Disability Law Center, file a complaint with the Utah AntiDiscrimination and Labor Division (UALD), or file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee (EEOC).
Evidence takes several forms. It includes your testimony, which is the very first evidence gathered by EEOC. It also includes written materials such as evaluations, notes by your employer, letters, memos, and the like. You will be asked to provide any documents you may have that relate to your case.
The answer depends on your claims and willingness to pursue litigation. If your claims are strong and you are invested in the litigation process, it can be very “worth it” to feel you are standing up for accountability, getting compensation for your injuries, and incentivizing the company to change its ways.