Affirmative Action

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), affirmative action (AA) refers to the actions taken to overcome the effects of past or present practices, policies, or other barriers to equal employment opportunity. AA provides companies an opportunity to correct previous injustices and past mistakes so that equal opportunities are afforded to all employees within the organization.

Using the Argosy library, the Internet or other sources, locate and review an Affirmative Action plan.

Look at the following key components in the plan:

• The organization’s commitment to affirmative action.
• Managerial responsibility, or authority, to direct implementation.
• Communication methods to broadcast the policies and procedures.
• Goals and timetables to improve the utilization of males, females, and minorities in underutilized areas.
• Internal audit and reporting processes to evaluate the progress.
• A community outreach program to develop internal and external support for diversity programs.

In what ways does the plan you selected provide a fair opportunity for all employees in the organization? Why?

some readings below:

• Following chapter from the assigned textbook, Managing Diversity: People Skills for a Multicultural Workplace:
  • Stereotyping & Prejudice: How and Why They Occur
  • Workplace Discrimination: Its Effects and Remedies
  • Men and Women: Parallel Cultures

Optional Reading

• Following chapter from the optional Ebrary book, Understanding Affirmative Action: Politics Discrimination, and the Search for Justice
  • Chapter 7:  Evidence on the Effectiveness of Affirmative Action
  • Chapter 8: Affirmative Action in the Twenty-first Century
• Workplace Discrimination Laws:
  http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/vii.html
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964:
  http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/vii.html
• Sexual Harassment:
  http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-sex.html