Does EEO law cover independent contractors?

Independent contractors are generally not covered under Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws because these laws primarily apply to employees within an employer-employee relationship. EEO laws exist to protect individuals from discrimination in the workplace based on various characteristics such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information. Since independent contractors operate as self-employed individuals and do not have a traditional employment relationship with the hiring entity, they lack the protections afforded to employees under EEO regulations.

It's important to recognize that while independent contractors may not receive the same legal protections as employees, they are still protected from discrimination in some contexts, particularly where state or local laws expand upon federal protections or where the nature of the contract resembles that of an employment relationship. However, in the context of standard federal EEO laws, the relationship and definitions tend to exclude independent contractors.