The directive issued by the Equal Opportunity Commission concerning the employment of individuals who have committed felonies applies to companies with at least ____________ employees.

The directive issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) concerning the employment of individuals who have committed felonies is specifically designed to apply to businesses with at least 15 employees. This mandate is rooted in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and it extends to how employers treat individuals with criminal records.

Employers with fewer than 15 employees are generally not held to the same federal standards regarding these issues, which means they are not subject to the same rigorous scrutiny when considering the employment of individuals with felony convictions. This threshold of 15 employees ensures that the guidelines are applied to significant employers in the workforce, thus promoting fair employment opportunities for those who may have faced barriers due to their past offenses.