Affirmative Action in the Workplace

The Founding Fathers wanted all men to be treated equal. The Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Jefferson, 1776). Unfortunately, equality for everyone has not been truly realized. The main issues affected were people’s skin color and gender. Women and people of color were not considered to be equal for many years. To correct this issue Affirmative Action was implemented. Affirmative Action helped people of color and women to be considered for jobs and accepted into colleges equally among other candidates. Today, equality between races and genders has improved, although Affirmative Action should be modified to meet the needs of today’s society.

Generations of families have suffered due unequal laws or prejudices set in place to prevent minorities from growing. Slavery, segregation, separate but equal laws, the trail of tears, failing ESOL classes, unequal pay and so much more effect today's youth and causing history to change slowly if at all. Affirmative action has good intentions and is very much needed in today's world however it sometimes fails doing what it was created to do.

Affirmative Action began in 1965 when President Johnson signed the Executive Order 11246 in to law. The Executive Order prevents federal contractors from discriminating against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The phrase “affirmative action” was first coined, when federal contractors were required to take affirmative action to ensure that applicants were not discriminated against in anyway. When affirmative action was created, it only included minorities. In 1967, Johnson decided to expand the program to include women because women were discriminated against much like minorities. In the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, affirmative action was a method used to stop

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a “five-member body appointed by the President to establish equal employment opportunity policy under the laws it administers” (p. 827, Twomey & Jennings, 2014). The EEOC is “responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person 's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information” (Overview, EEOC, 2014). These federal laws include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended in 1972, 1978, and 1991, along with the Equal Pay Act (EPA), and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).

Affirmative action has been around for decades. Some believe it isn’t fair but others do. Those who believe and agree with affirmative action tend to say, “The principle of affirmative action is to promote societal equality through the preferential treatment of socioeconomically disadvantaged people” (Bidmead, Andrew pg 3). Others that disagree with it and find it unfair simply see it as another form of discrimination, giving one group extra advantages based upon nothing but their skin color (Cline, Austin pg 1). I believe that affirmative action is indeed fair because it gives minorities a better chance at having a successful career in their near future.

When the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted employees felt sigh of relief because now it was unlawful for employers to discriminate against once race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. “Title VII provided the legal basis for all people to pursue the work of their choosing and to advance in their chosen occupations subject to the limitations of only their individual qualifications, talents, and energies” (McConnell, 2013, p. 46). The Civil Rights Act of 1964 also established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to enforce the antidiscrimination requirements of Title VII. What employees didn’t know was that this was merely a law and laws are broken all the time, although there are severe consequences.

Affirmative Action is an employment legislation protection system that is intended to address the systemized discrimination faced by women and minorities. It achieves this by enforcing diversity through operational intrusions into recruitment, selection, and other personnel functions and practices in America. Originally, Affirmative Action arose because of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s desire to integrate society on educational, employment, and economic levels, yet it was John F. Kennedy who issued Executive Order 10925 to create the Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity, a commission that evolved into our modern Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Throughout America there are many different views on the effects of affirmative action. Many see it as a negative policy which gives an unnecessary advantage to minorities in America. In a 2009 Pew Poll, “58% of African Americans agree” and only “22% whites agree” that there should be “preferential treatment to improve the position of blacks and other minorities” ("Public Backs Affirmative Action”).

In the United States justice is defined as equal treatment of all its citizens under the law. When one citizen is mistreated an injustice has been committed against all people. Affirmative Action is a program whose purpose is to make sure that citizens are treated equally by enforcing a set of policies which are designed to promote the inclusion of all individuals regardless of race, disability, sex, or religion. In the United States democracy we are all equal, but some groups have been enjoying more advantages in society than others for centuries. Current statistics show the depth of modern day racial gaps, which are rooted in historical discrimination and modern-day structural racism. Generations of nominal disadvantages have created

In the 1960s when minorities and whites were equal according to the constitution but unequal in reality, a program was needed to level the playing field. Thus the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was created and prohibited discrimination. It marked the beginning of a debate that has been going on for nearly a half of a century. Affirmative action needs to be reevaluated in educational settings in light of current needs.

I think affirmative action was fair at its inception under Lynden B. Johnson, and throughout the remainder of the 20th century, but I don’t feel it’s fair in society today.

Affirmative action is a law that was passed in the early 1960’s and which has been exercised throughout the world for decades upon decades. This law has been recognized to “attempt to get rid of discrimination against minorities, and women in America” Affirmative action also known as A.A. began as a plan to equalize the educational, employment, and contracting opportunities for minorities, and women with opportunities given to their white, male counterparts.” (U.S. history.com) A.A. is also considered the set of public policies and initiatives designed to help eliminate past

Affirmative action is an outcome of the 1960 's Civil Rights Movement, intended to provide equal opportunities for members of minority groups and women in education and employment. In March1961, President Kennedy was the first to use the term "affirmative action" in an Executive Order that directed government contractors to take "affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed and those employees are treated equally during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin." The Executive Order also established the President’s Committee on Equal Employment

It is important in any workplace that all employees are treated with equal rights. The Affirmative Action was placed to provide fair requirements when hiring new employees to a workforce. Equal opportunity is strived for regardless of race, gender, religion, national origin, age, or disability. When hired for a job, we should all be seen as one. The Affirmative Actions were placed to ensure that employment of applicants and treatment of employees during employment are without regard to a race, gender, or national origin. Is the Affirmative Action still needed in a workplace today or have we, as a country, already grew past these issues?

     Martin and Tulgan (2002) claims, “ Affirmative action is the positive steps an employer takes to employ women and minorities in numbers equal to or greater than their availability and to proactively seek to employ those with disabilities and veterans” (p.89). Over the course of the years equal employment opportunity laws and regulations were put in place. The Equal Pay Act was established in 1963 to set pay based on the job category, and to prevent wage differential based on gender. In 1965 the Executive Order 11246 was passed to stop