Disparate-impact discrimination a form of employment discrimination that results when an employer intentionally discriminates against employees who are members of a protected class. employment discrimination a class of persons with identifiable characteristics who historically have been victimized by discriminatory treatment for certain purposes. depending on the context, these characteristics include age, color, gender, national origin, race, and religion. protected class treating employees or job applicants unequally on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, or disability. this is prohibited by federal statutes. disparate-treatment discrimination a form of employment discrimination that occurs when a protected group of people is adversely affected by an employer's practices, procedures, or tests, even though they do not appear to be discriminatory.