Affirmative Action

This chapter discusses what affirmative action is, as well as why it was created and how it is implemented. The Executive Order 11246 signed in September 1965 states that “affirmative action, or positive measures, must be taken by covered employers to recruit and advance qualified minorities and women for jobs in which they are underutilized relative to their availability”. Affirmative action was created in an attempt to overcome past practices that discriminated against members of protected classes. The chapter focuses on components of affirmative action, coverage, and affirmative action plans. It compares the organization’s demographic composition to the availability. Contrary to popular belief, quotas are not really a component of affirmative action. Quotas are employment criteria imposed by the employer, which requires a “certain number of people from a protected class are hired”. The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) is responsible for monitoring affirmative action. Controlled Vocabulary Terms affirmative action; employment; Executive order; Human resource management