<P> Disparate impact in United States labor law refers to practices in employment , housing , and other areas that adversely affect one group of people of a protected characteristic more than another , even though rules applied by employers or landlords are formally neutral . Although the protected classes vary by statute , most federal civil rights laws protect based on race , color , religion , national origin , and sex as protected traits , and some laws include disability status and other traits as well . </P>
in order to prove disparate impact you first must establish
practices in employment , housing , and other areas that adversely affect one group of people of a protected characteristic more than another , even though rules applied by employers or landlords are formally neutral