Which of the following is not a protected characteristic under EO?

• A. Hair color
• B. Race and Ethnicity
• C. Religion
• D. National Origin

Answer: (A)

The main idea is identifying which attributes federal law protects from employment discrimination. Protected characteristics are the categories that employers cannot base decisions on under Equal Employment Opportunity laws. Race and Ethnicity, National Origin, and Religion are all explicitly protected, meaning discrimination against someone for those reasons is illegal. Hair color is not listed as a protected characteristic, so it isn’t covered by EO protections. That said, workplaces may have grooming or appearance policies, and some states or localities may offer additional protections related to appearance or cultural practices. But under EO, hair color isn’t a protected category.