EQUAL RIGHTS COLORADO FACT SHEET
The Facts About Colorado’s Employment Nondiscrimination Law
Background on the Law Why Senate Bill 25 is Good for Colorado n Gay and lesbian professionals who responded to
Businesses and Families a survey about leaving their employers indicated
• Introduced as Senate Bill 25: Jan 10, 2007
that an unfair, negative work environment played
• Final passage by Legislature: May 3, 2007 n The passage of ENDA makes Colorado a better
an important role in their decision to leave their
• Signed into law: May 25, 2007 place to live for all people. The law formalizes the
jobs. (Diversity Inc’s Top 50 Companies for
• Effective date: August 3, 2007 importance Coloradans place on fairness, equality,
Diversity, 2007).
• Codified at §24-34-402 C.R.S. and quality of life for all people. The right to live in
Signed in May 2007, the Employment a place that is free from discrimination is a core
Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA) expands Colorado’s value that all Coloradans share. Who to Contact:
employment nondiscrimination protections to n Protecting employees and creating an open and Individuals who have experienced discrimination
include sexual orientation, defined as diverse work environment is smart business for and would like to file a complaint should contact
heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, Colorado. Businesses do better when they do not the Colorado Civil Rights Division at 303-894-2997
transgender status, or perception thereof. discriminate against employees. or visiting the web at www.dora.state.co.us/civil-
n Colorado was recently listed in CNBC.com’s rights/complaint_process.htm.
What Senate Bill 25 Requires “Top 5 States for Business.” Colorado will enhance
its business climate by having this protective law
The law makes it illegal to consider sexual orienta- in place.
tion, including transgender status, when making
n Leading companies like IBM, American Airlines,
employment related decisions such as hiring, firing,
promoting, or demoting. It also makes it illegal to J.P. Morgan, Nike, Xerox, Lucent Technologies,
make inquiries about an applicant or employee’s Hewlett-Packard, and the United States Postal
sexual orientation, inclusive of transgender status. Service succeed in part because they are inclusive
organizations that share nondiscrimination
practices.
Who Senate Bill 25 Applies To n The cost of losing and replacing professionals
The law applies to employers, employment and managers who leave their employers due to
agencies, labor organizations, on-the-job training, unfairness in the workplace is approximately $64
and vocational training programs and schools. billion a year. (Level Playing Field Institute, 2007).