What is Affirmative Action?
Affirmative action is the set of positive steps that employers use to promote equal employment opportunity and to eliminate discrimination. Affirmative action does not, however, require you to establish quotas, and in fact quotas are prohibited. J. J. Keller’s Human Resources Management Guide: An Essential Tool for Managing Day-to-Day HR Responsibilities addresses affirmative action.
Affirmative action is a catchall phrase referring to laws, customs, and social policies intended to alleviate the types of discrimination that limit opportunities for a variety of demographic groups in various social institutions. More specifically, it refers to both voluntary and mandatory efforts undertaken by federal, state, and local governments; private employers; and schools to combat discrimination and to promote equal opportunity in education and employment for all. However, the meaning and nature of affirmative action have changed over the last 30 or so years as a result of congressional, presidential, and court actions (Stephanopoulos and Edley, 1995). Opinion polls reveal that the general public is sharply divided on the meaning and value of affirmative action (Bruno, 1995). One reason for the heated controversy is related to confusion over how the term is defined and implemented. In a general sense, affirmative action occurs when an organization expends energy to make sure
Affirmative Action refers to the specific steps employers take to prevent discrimination and to address stereotypical thinking and biases that still impede employment opportunity. Affirmative action is monitored by the EEOC or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission who as a way to monitor this action require the filing of specific reports that log the various races employed by your company.
Affirmative Action is a program created by the Federal government in 1964. Its designed to remedy past discrimination in employment and eliminate current and future race and gender discrimination. Affirmative Action at the University of Utah promotes race and gender diversity in employment by recruiting women and minorities into the applicant pools.
