EEOC RACE/ETHNIC IDENTIFICATION CATEGORIES
American Indian or Alaska Native (Not Hispanic or Latino): A person having origins in any of the
original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintain tribal
affiliation or community attachment.
Asian (Not Hispanic or Latino): A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East,
Southeast Asia, or the Indian Subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan,
Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Black or African American (Not Hispanic or Latino): A person having origins in any of the black racial
groups of Africa.
Hispanic or Latino: A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other
Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (Not Hispanic or Latino): A person having origins in any of
the peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
White (Not Hispanic or Latino): A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the
Middle East, or North Africa.
Two or More Races (Not Hispanic or Latino): A person who primarily identifies with two or more of the
above race/ethnicity categories.
GENDER IDENTIFICATION CATEGORIES
Gender Non-Conforming: A person who does not conform to society’s expectations of gender expression
based on the gender binary, expectations of masculinity and femininity, or how they should identify their
gender.
Transgender: A person whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from the sex they were
assigned at birth; umbrella term used by many gender variant people; may identify as female-to-male
(FTM) or male-to-female (MTF); does not always involve hormone treatment or surgical procedures.
INDIVIDUAL WITH DISABILITIES
A person who (1) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of his or her
major life activity(s), (2) has a record of such impairment(s), or (3) is regarded as having such
impairment(s). For purposes of this definition, an individual with disability(s) is substantially limited if he
or she is likely to experience difficulty in securing, retaining, or advancing in employment because of the
disability(s).
VETERAN STATUS CATEGORIES
Vietnam Era (Aug 5, 1964-May 7, 1975): Any veteran who served during that period are said to have
been on active duty during the Vietnam Era, no matter where they may have been stationed around the
world.
Recently Separated Veteran: Any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such
veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service.
Disabled Veteran: A veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to
compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under
laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or a person who was discharged or released from
active duty because of a service-connected disability.
Other Protected Veteran: A veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air
service during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized,
under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
Armed Forces Service Medal Veteran: Any veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S.
military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an
Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985 (61 FR 1209).
OTHER PROTECTED STATUS
The City of Worcester does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of age, color,
gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, physical or mental
disability, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status, as applicable. Direct
comments and inquiries to: Equal Opportunity Employment Officer, City Hall Human Resources 109,
508-799-1030, EEOAA@worcesterma.gov
