...Affirmative Action in the Workplace Negative and Positive Rebecca Mikell Human Resources BUS362 Affirmative action in this time and place is a very hard area to keep in place when it comes to keeping jobs even at work for the employees. Sometimes this type of equality in the working world can be good and sometimes it can be bad, but it depends on how it is used that really makes how a person can feel when it comes to this type of treatment of employees no matter what color or sex a person is during this time period. If you take a look at what might be good about this type of action where I work five days a week, you would say that it is better on the day shift than on the night shift that is for sure, because on the night shift this is very unevenly played out as far as equality. In this day and time, affirmative action is a continuous issue in the working world. It was put into place to encourage diversity and reduce discrimination based on ethnic background and skin color. (What are the Pros and Cons of Affirmative Action) Affirmative action is used basically to show that people with ethnic backgrounds are capable of doing the same job as another person of a different color or that a woman is capable of doing the same job as a man. These days, sometimes both statements are true but not in all cases all the time. I’m sure a woman believes that she can do a job better than a man, and sometimes I am one of those people , but there are some positions that companies...
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...Affirmative Action Author’s note This research is being submitted on November 5th, 2013, for Jean Juchnowiccz’s 5000 Human Resources Management Course. Affirmative Action in the Workplace When you think of affirmative action in the workplace do you think of equal rights for all, or just equal rights for minorities. Affirmative action is the extent to which employers make an effort through their personal practices to attract retain, and upgrade members of the protected classes of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, (Bernardin & Russell 2013). In easier terms affirmative action is known to be the equal opportunity measures that Federal contractors and subcontractors are legally required to adopt to prevent discrimination against employees or applicants on the basis of color, religion, sex or national origin (Wikipedia 2013). Below I’ll introduce some ideas of how affirmative action is used in the workplace, through affirmative action plans, promotion within the workplace, and affirmative action with private companies. Affirmative action began in the United States as a tool to address the persistent discrimination against African Americans in 1960 (Wikipedia 2013). During that time most Americans who were not considered in the highest social class, males, and from European decent, where passed over for employment opportunities and advancements in the work place. When President John F. Kennedy mandated affirmative action into the workplace for the Federal Government and sub-contractors...
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...Head: AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Implementing Affirmative Action Name: Axia College Affirmative Action Policies Should be Implemented Affirmative action policies should be implemented to improve to help propel the company forward. Affirmative action can be a useful tool to help create diversity in the workplace. Implementing affirmative action policies will encourage growth in the company because we will be able to effectively select and hire people, not on the basis of race but on actual qualifications that make a person suitable for a position in the company. Affirmative action policies will also benefit the overall workplace because people will be able to interact with people from other backgrounds, creating a blended work atmosphere. Affirmative action will encourage our company to hire and train minorities that are qualified for positions within the company, without having to compromise the rights of non-minority workers. Support for the Implementation of Affirmative Action Furthermore, the board needs to realize that we are living in an era, where we cannot afford to have a company that treats people unfairly on the basis of race or any other discriminatory practices. Currently, we do not practice unfair hiring or biased policies in our company, but we can still be a more well-rounded business. It is possible that the members of the board are hesitant to employ affirmative action policies...
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...Implementing Affirmative Action Ruth Sears HRM240 May 29, 2011 Paula Augustyn Implementing Affirmative Action Affirmative action policies should have implemented to improve to help propel the company forward. Affirmative action can be a useful tool to help create diversity in the workplace. Implementing affirmative action policies will encourage growth in the company and will be able effectively to select and hire people, not just based on race but on qualifications that make a person suitable for a position in the company. Affirmative action policies will also benefit the workplace because people will be able to interact with people from other backgrounds, creating a blended work atmosphere. Affirmative action will encourage the company to hire and train minorities, which are qualified for positions within the company, without compromising the rights of non-minority workers. Furthermore, the board needs to realize in which the era living in now, where it cannot afford to have a company that treats people unfairly based on race or any other discriminatory practices. Currently, the company does not practice unfair hiring or biased policies in the company, but the company can still be a better round business. It is possible that the members of the board are hesitant to employ affirmative action policies because affirmative action is often a controversial topic. Regardless of the controversy surrounding affirmative action, a policy...
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...Affirmative Action In America University of Phoenix, Axia College Affirmative Action In America Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This statement will always ring true especially on the subject of equal opportunity employment and Affirmative Action. While Affirmative Action seemed to be a hot topic in the past, it is still one that should continue to be addressed. Affirmative Action is needed in the American workplace to improve morale and create equity among all Americans. The history of Affirmative Action (AA) is a long one. The first federal law passed was The Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law started the term, “Equal Opportunity Employment” and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The first legislation to pass was Executive Order number 11246 on September 24, 1965 (Aberson & Haag, 2003). This essentially stated that employers needed to take affirmative action to ensure no one was discriminated against for their race, religion, color, or country of origin. In more recent years, employers have added sexual orientation, abilities, and ethnicity to their list of nondiscrimination. Unfortunately, during these times white men were not always accepting of women and minorities in the workplace. Women who joined the workplace in the 1960s and 1970s were expected to do chores for the men in the workplace. They would also be sexually harassed and abused by their male coworkers...
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...Affirmative Action Marlene S. Smith MGT/434 October 28, 2013 Thomas Affirmative Action Affirmative action is an action that was purposefully designed to provide full and equal opportunities for employment and education for women, minorities, and other individuals belonging to disadvantaged groups. This paper will assess the rudiments of Affirmative Action as it applies to public and private sector employers. The paper will also evaluate what employers are subject to affirmative action plans, what the plans require employers to do, and what happens if employers do not meet the objectives of the affirmative action plan. Affirmative action has been around for many years. Fullinwinder (2009), “Affirmative action means positive steps taken to increase the representation of women and minorities in the areas of employment, education, and business from which they have been historically excluded” (para. 1). When an employer uses preferential treatment to choose a candidate that the company should hire based on race, gender, or ethnicity affirmative action generates disagreement. Most individuals think issues that are mounted by affirmative action derive from the issue of race. Please remember that affirmative action does not apply to all employers. In fact affirmative action applies to organization or companies that employ 50 or more employees who have contracts with the federal government. These companies or organizations have to support the government with goods or services...
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...Affirmative action is a practice that is intended to promote opportunities for the “protected class” which includes minorities, woman, and people with disabilities or any disadvantaged group for that matter. With affirmative action in place people of this protected class are given an even playing field in terms of hiring, promotion, as well as compensation. Historically, affirmative action is only known to have protected African Americans and woman; however that is not the case. Affirmative action protects a variety of people and without this statute many people included in this protected class would be unfairly discriminated against. There are many reasons why affirmative action should continue to be a part of workplace such as: • Fosters diversity. • Educates our workforce on diversity. • Equips employees to achieve their highest contribution to the mission. • Challenges employees to make their maximum contribution to the mission. • Encourages employees to offer differing views and suggestions toward achieving organizational goals. • Respects and appreciates individual differences. • Provides equitable treatment and opportunities. • Creates and maintains an inclusive approach to all systems, policies, and practices (i.e., promotions, performance ratings, awards, training, assignments, and access to services). • Facilitates culture change to support wider diversity. People who are opposed to affirmative action often argue that it gives an unfair advantage to...
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...Affirmative Action, A Social Issue The black rights and women’s rights movements of the 1960’s fought against injustice and discrimination that had been suffered by minorities for years (Hudson). In response, President Kennedy issued Executive Order 10925 in 1961, creating a Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity and mandating that projects financed by federal funding would “take affirmative action” to ensure that hiring and employment practices were free of racial bias (Hudson). Two more executive orders in 1965 and 1968 prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, and gender, giving the federal government the power to enforce this prohibition (Hudson). However, in current times, affirmative action programs have suffered setbacks. Affirmative action in education has been abolished in Texas by court order, and in California and Washington it has been terminated by public referendum (Bybee). Currently, the main question concerning affirmative action is whether or not it is the best way to combat inequality. Also: What groups should or should not have affirmative action? When will the problem be “solved” and affirmative action no longer necessary? While the United States is divided between 49% of citizens supporting affirmative action programs and 43% opposing them, many Americans have a difficult time even defining what affirmative action is (Gallup 2003). The term ‘affirmative action’ includes laws, policies, and programs designed to reduce...
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...Why do we as a society still need Affirmative Action? Affirmative Action is an action or policy that ensures steps are taken for the purpose of eliminating the present effects of past discrimination (Dressler, 2013). Discrimination is one of the biggest problems people face in the workplace and it must be dealt with forcefully. Affirmative action also ensures that qualified individuals have equal access to opportunities, are given a fair chance to contribute their talents and abilities and ultimately have a positive impact on all members of our society. The main reason that we as a society still need affirmative action is that discrimination still exists. Discrimination is prejudice in action which takes specific actions toward or against the person based on a person’s group (Dressler, 2013). Affirmative action has a critical connection to creating diversity in our workforce and in our educational institutions across the nation. Affirmative action programs have encouraged women to enter traditionally male-dominated fields with higher salaries and provide other ethnicities with access to educational & professional opportunities they would otherwise have been denied despite their qualifications. Even though there have been great improvements in opportunities for women and a person of color, discrimination is a subject fought daily. On the other hand, there’s a widespread perception that minority students have an easier time of getting into school. Although we have made...
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...Affirmative Action Angelia Malone MGT 434 August 29, 2011 Jeff Herring Employers and Affirmative Action Plans Affirmative Action was first established in the 1960’s and introduced by President John F. Kennedy in an effort to equalize african americans and women to prevent discrimination. Affirmative Action is important because it attempts to create an equal playing field or equal opportunities for minority groups in the nation. Affirmative Action and diversity in the workplace are very similar but have different meanings behind them. Diversity in the workplace means that the employer voluntarily promotes an inclusive workplace and Title VII permits diversity opportunities to everyone. Affirmative Action in employment is designed to eliminate discrimination in the workplace in the areas of recruitment, hiring and promotion. Each employer is responsible for developing an affirmative action plan because it is the law and because...
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...Affirmative Action Sharon Huntington University of Phoenix MGT 434 Teresa Knox September 13, 2010 Affirmative Action According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, “affirmative action means positive steps taken to increase the representation of women and minorities in areas of employment, education, and business from which they have been historically excluded” (Fullinwider, 2009). The following paragraphs will discuss what employers are subject to affirmative action plans, what employers are required to do under affirmative action plans, and what happens if employers do not meet the goals of the affirmative action plan. Affirmative Action Employers Not all employers are required to have an affirmative action plan. “Affirmative action regulations do not apply to everyone, but only to just over 20 percent of the workforce” (Bennett-Alexander & Hartman, 2007, p. 184). The following types of employers are required to have affirmative action plans: • Federal contracts or subcontracts worth $10,000 or more • Or 50 or more employees and contracts worth $50,000 or more • Or are a construction contractor or subcontractor with a federal or federally assisted contract valued at more than $10,000 (The Employers Association, 2009). In addition to being required to have a written affirmative action plan, the above employers are also subject to compliance checks and reviews at the place...
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...Professional Knowledge and Abilities Mary L Woods Gen 200 January 31, 2011 Maya Chapman Professional Knowledge and Abilities The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) is a nonprofit organization of professionals who manage affirmative action, equal opportunity, diversity, and other human resource programs. The association was founded in 1974 as a national nonprofit organization for professionals working in areas of affirmative action. Their mission is to help their members be more successful and productive in their careers. They do this by promoting understanding and advocacy of affirmative action to enhance access and equality in employment, economic, and educational opportunities. The Goals of the AAAA Some of the goals of this organization include fostering effective affirmative action and equal opportunity programs nationwide, establishing and maintaining ethical standards and sponsoring education and training programs. These goals and others are a basis of the AAAA’s mission statement: “We help our members to be more successful and productive in their careers. We promote understanding and advocacy of affirmative action to enhance access and equality in employment, economic, and educational opportunities” (AAAA, 2011). The association is made up of individuals and organization from many aspects of the public and private sector, businesses, social services, legal, government, and educational. With their help civil rights laws...
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...Affirmative Action MGMT345 AIU Abstract This paper will discuss Affirmative Action and the initial intent of its legislation. It will discuss the conclusion of Bakke v. Regents and its basis. It will also discuss the positive and negative results of the AA legislation. Affirmative Action Introduction US history has shown us that not everyone has always been considered equal. Americans were allowed to own slaves and work them however they saw fit. After slavery was abolished, African-Americans were still not treated fairly. There was a “separate but equal” state of mind among Americans which kept whites and black separate in the workplace and schools. Once schools and workplaces were segregated the African-Americans were still treated unfairly. Today we see a lot less unfair treatment towards African-American’s because of the Affirmative Action policies and cases like Bakke v. Regents. What is Affirmative Action? What is Affirmative Action? Women and minorities are allowed entry into professions that were formally off limits to them because of affirmative action programs. Initiated in the 1960s this federal agenda was designed to counteract the discrimination towards women and ethnic minorities (Nittle, 2012). This program is meant to promote equal opportunity in employment, education, government sectors, and more. It is not meant to create reverse discrimination but in its modern form affirmative action can cause reverse discrimination by admissions officers...
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...1. Affirmative Action in the U.S. was designed to counteract the lingering effects of generations of past discrimination as an effort to improve the employment and educational opportunities of women and members of minority groups through preferential treatment in job hiring, college admissions, the awarding of government contracts, and the allocation of other social benefits. Race, sex, ethnic origin, religion, disability, and age are the main criteria for inclusion in affirmative action programs. Affirmative action was initially embark at the federal level following the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 1978, 1995 and 1996, the U.S. Supreme Court placed limitations on affirmative action programs as various rulings imposed further restrictions. In 1996, Proposition 209 in California prohibited government agencies and institutions from upholding affirmative action as race could not be the preeminent factor. (Affirmative Action, 2013) 2. Reverse discrimination is the unfair treatment of members of majority groups resulting from preferential policies, as in college admissions or employment, intended to remedy earlier discrimination against minorities. (Reverse Discrimination, 2013) 3. Comparable Worth is the concept that women and men should receive equal pay for jobs calling for comparable skill and responsibility. The first knows use of comparable worth was in 1983. (Comparable Worth, 2013) 4. I feel that the Affirmative Action concept is an appropriate form of remedy...
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...Affirmative Action in the U.S. was designed to counteract the lingering effects of generations of past discrimination as an effort to improve the employment and educational opportunities of women and members of minority groups through preferential treatment in job hiring, college admissions, the awarding of government contracts, and the allocation of other social benefits. Race, sex, ethnic origin, religion, disability, and age are the main criteria for inclusion in affirmative action programs. Affirmative action was initially embark at the federal level following the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 1978, 1995 and 1996, the U.S. Supreme Court placed limitations on affirmative action programs as various rulings imposed further restrictions. In 1996, Proposition 209 in California prohibited government agencies and institutions from upholding affirmative action as race could not be the preeminent factor. (Affirmative Action, 2013) 2. Reverse discrimination is the unfair treatment of members of majority groups resulting from preferential policies, as in college admissions or employment, intended to remedy earlier discrimination against minorities. (Reverse Discrimination, 2013) 3. Comparable Worth is the concept that women and men should receive equal pay for jobs calling for comparable skill and responsibility. The first knows use of comparable worth was in 1983. (Comparable Worth, 2013) 4. I feel that the Affirmative Action concept is an appropriate form of remedy in the workplace...
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