Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Affirmative Action and Diversity initiatives are three different concepts. However, they do have an inter-relation between them. Affirmative Action plans are initiated by the federal government. This programme ensures equal opportunities for employment and opportunities for self-development at workplace. It provides opportunities to qualified individuals who have been denied such opportunities in the past on some kind of discrimination. Primarily, it is a quota based program to increase participation of women and minorities at workplace (Andrade, 2009).
EEO is to provide equal opportunities of employment for all individuals eligible for employment. These rights protect qualified individuals from any kind of discrimination or harassment based on race, religion, colour, sex, nationality, age any medical condition, any physical or mental ability. The prime objective of these rights is that everyone should have equal and justifiable access to employment opportunities (Andrade, 2009). Affirmative actions are proactive measures of the employers to provide equal opportunities to the minority groups in the society. Through this initiative, the government sorts to amend and eliminate the past ill effects of discrimination.
Diversity is a wide term and includes individuals from different race, gender, religious beliefs, colour, nationality, marital status, physical, mental or medical disability, educational background, work experience and various
The Equality Act (2010) is thought to be one of the most significant acts in promoting anti discriminatory behaviours by both employers and companies along with the rest of society. The Equality Act (2010) covers the Sex discrimination act, race relations act and also the disability discrimination and 6 other acts and regulation all in one and so this make it easier for everyone to understand their responsibilities and shows them how everyone is entitled to dignity and respect and gives individuals, greater protection from discrimination and to protect and also promote a fair and equal society (please see reference below).
Diversity is about respecting individual differences these can be: ethnicity, physical abilities, gender, age, religious, beliefs, sexual orientation, material status, politic, region, religion, disability.
Equal employment opportunity is a policy statement that all individuals should be equally considered for a job and not be discriminated against for reasons such as their race, color, marital status,
Under this title, organizations are expected to show affirmative action. Affirmative action gives preference in employment to traditionally underrepresented women and minority
The term ‘Diversity’ means the state or fact of being diverse; different or unlike. Within equality and inclusion it is the difference between individuals and groups including: culture, nationality, ability, ethnic origin, gender, age, religion, beliefs, sexual orientation and social class.
Diversity - is meant by acknowledging that each individual is unique and recognising individual differences, For example culture, ability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other individual characteristic.
* Diversity is essentially another word for different, it recognises that people are different and unique in many ways such as, personal characteristics, background, culture, personality, race, disability, gender, religion, belief, sexual orientation and age. It means recognising and understanding individual’s differences and embracing them, to allow people feel more valued.
Affirmative Action is an outcome of the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement. Its purpose is to provide equal opportunities for members of minority groups and women in education and employment. It is not until 1961 did the term “affirmative action” was first used by President John F. Kennedy. He made it very clear in an Executive Order that directed government have to take “affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin.” Since a lot of cooperation still tends to hire white male, by enforcing affirmative action, the number of minority groups and women in the labor force will increase.Affirmative Action helps to eliminate the imbalance in the society and reform the American system. The US Department of Labor describes affirmative action as the banning of discrimination.
Today’s society emphasizes the need of equal opportunities; everyone should have equal chances despite their race, gender, or other characteristics. However, there are still many barriers and biases, often unconscious, which do not let to embrace the potential of everyone. Even though Civil Right Era made a good improvement, because of the long years of legal racism and sexism, ethnic minority members and women are still disadvantaged by the system. It is obvious that something should be done about it and one of the ways to reduce inequality is affirmative action.
Diversity means to value and respect the differences and individuality of people. This means to embrace the differences between people and to treat a person’s race, culture, religious beliefs, age, sexual orientation, gender, physical and mental characteristics etc. with respect.
Many of us have heard of or have been made aware of the phrase Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO). But how many of us genuinely comprehend the criterion of EEO and why it subsists? Equal Employment Opportunity laws are designed to give all workers fair consideration on the basis of job performance rather than any irrelevant personal factors. These laws are in place in order to prevent bias, prejudice, bigotry, and inequity against anyone due to physical abilities, race, religion, gender, or age.
Affirmative action is an action taken by an organization to select on the basis of race, gender, or ethnicity by giving due preferences to minorities like women and races being not adequately represented under the existing employment. To make the presentation of all these compositions almost equal in proportion to do away the injustice done in the past. The Supreme Company need to design an affirmative action program in the light of recent Supreme Court judgment passed in favor of affirmative actions to be adopted by various companies.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws have helped shape the workforce today and they have greatly contributed to the introduction of diversity in the working environment. No longer are people rejected of employment based on their race, gender, age, or disability. The labor force has increased from 62 million people in 1950 to over 159 million people in the labor force today (Toolsi). The passing of the EEO laws proved to be a great advancement in the diversity of the workforce and treatment of employees, but it was a tremendous battle to get where we are today. Before the passing of these laws, unequal treatment was normal and discrimination was common among the majority of employers. This made acquiring employment difficult and caused many people to be unemployed. Three Equal Employment Opportunity laws that helped diminish these discriminatory practices were Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. For each law, I will describe what it enforces and explain the actions that happened in society and the workplace that made these laws necessary. I will discuss important political figures that contributed to the passing of these laws. Lastly, I will examine how each law has improved human resources and has led to better management of employees overall.
Affirmative action has been the topic of debate for many years. It has been controversial because it has been said to be a form of reverse discrimination. This paper will discuss the purpose behind affirmative action, as well as, its various strengths and weaknesses. Also, this paper will look at the following issues surrounding affirmative action such as the incompetency myth ( are companies hiring less qualified people?), the impact on employment (what has changed in the work place?), the impact on women (how have their lives changed?) and the impact on employment law (what documents back up affirmative action?). Lastly, a discussion of affirmative action on an international scale, and what international documents have to say about
Equal opportunities are very important in the modern workplace. Providing equal opportunities involves providing the same opportunities to all the employees and prospective employees regardless of their sex, age, disabilities, ethnic origins, sexual orientations etc. Equal opportunities allow the employee to have rights therefore the employer is unable to take advantage, discriminate or manipulate staff. Employers have an element of power over their employees but by having the law on the side of the employees, employers therefore need to think twice before discriminating in any form. Organisations will need to ensure that there is no unlawful or unfair discrimination. Employees are not stupid – a company that behaves badly