Has employment affirmative action led to reverse discrimination?
No. Thirty years of affirmative action policies have not led to widespread problems of reverse discrimination. A recent Labor Department report showed that out of the 3000 discrimination cases filed in Federal court between 1990 and 1994, less than three percent allege reverse discrimination and only six of these were upheld as meritorious (Hearings on Affirmative Action in Employment, 1995). Does affirmative action mean hiring a less qualified individual just because they are underrepresented? No. To be included in a candidate pool applicants must meet competitive selection standards. If candidates are equal in ability, then race or sex may be factored in as a criteria as a “tie-breaker” when deciding between or among finalists for a position. Employment affirmative action policies are designed to make the hiring process as objective as possible to hire the most qualified candidate. In doing so, it is highly unlikely that a less qualified candidate would be selected for a position. To
