Question

Affirmative Action, EEO was laws and policies put in place to protect the rights of citizens in the workplace. Explain how these policies benefit working people.

Answer 1

Affirmative action refers to the action that is favorable for individuals who are subject to discrimination. Under affirmative action, employer is required to design program to eliminate discrimination at work place.

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) is a division of the Department of Labor which determine whether the employers adequately take affirmative action or not. It conduct affirmative action compliance review where the documentation are reviewed and visit on-site.

Affirmative action obligations arise in the workplace through

• Executive order 11246
• a voluntary affirmative action plan established by an employer
• Finding of discrimination under title 7 which can be used as a remedy judicially.

A company might pursue a strong affirmative action policy because of the following reasons: -

• Under affirmative action, employer is required to design program to eliminate discrimination at work place.
• Affirmative action is number oriented where the main aim is to change the demographics within the organization.
• It promotes workforce diversity.
• It helps in eliminating socioeconomic differences.
• Stereotyping is eliminated.
• It helps in breaking the glass ceiling. Glass ceiling is upper limit of the organization that is invisible and this layer makes it impossible for the women to get promoted, get pay rise or career growth.