Affirmative Action In The Workplace Essay - 1899 Words

The term affirmative action describes policies aimed at a historically socio-politically non-dominant group (typically, minority men or women of all races) intended to promote access to education or employment. Motivation for affirmative action is a desire to redress the effects of past and current discrimination that is regarded as unfair.[who?] It also serves to encourage public institutions such as universities, hospitals and police forces to be more representative of the population[1]. This is commonly achieved through targeted recruitment programs aimed at applicants from socio-politically disadvantaged groups. In some cases affirmative action involves giving preferential treatment to these groups.[2] Opponents of affirmative action†¦show more content†¦(Read Thomas Sowells Affirmative Action Around The World and Basic and Applied Economics) It also causes unprepared applicants to be accepted in highly demanding educational institution or jobs which result in eventual failure. (See, for example, Richard Sanders study of affirmative action in Law School and bar exam). Lastly, by lowering the bar, it denies those who strive for excellence on their own merit the sense of real achievement. (See, for example, Clarence Thomas My Grandfathers Son: A Memoir.) Some argue that affirmative action itself has some merit when it is targeted to true cause of social deprivation such as poverty while race, ethnicity or gender based affirmative action is misguided.[3] Some opponents claim that affirmative action is not necessary when looking at how past groups that suffered from extensive oppression like Asian, Jewish, Arab, Irish, Eastern European and Southern European Americans, all of whom are groups of people that were also discriminated against within society in the past and never received any benefits from an affirmative action system and have (they claim) done perfectly fine if not better than average in American society today. A study has noted that on some campuses, such as the University of California, Berkeley where affirmative action was abolished by Proposition 209, Asian American students, who already face discrimination on college campuses, would be theShow MoreRelatedAffirmative Action in the Workplace997 Words   |  4 PagesAffirmative 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 sexRead MoreAffirmative Action in the Workplace1282 Words   |  5 PagesAffirmative Action in the Workplace Introduction The Civil Rights Act of 1964 empowered minorities in many different ways, most notably in prohibiting discrimination in the workplace. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act expressly prohibits discrimination in hiring, firing, promotion, pay, benefits and other aspects of employment based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin (U.S. Department of Labor, 2012). This law was seen as a major boon to minorities and women in the workforce whoRead MoreAffirmative Action On The Workplace1422 Words   |  6 PagesAffirmative Action in the Workplace Affirmative action for many years has been viciously misinterpreted by many employers and managers that hire new employees. Affirmative action was designed to eliminate any discrimination among qualified employees that were competing for a job. However, in recent years it has backfired and created an entirely new discrimination. This problem arises when companies are told to meet a certain quota for each different race and gender no matter what the circumstancesRead MoreWorkplace Discrimination And Affirmative Action2174 Words   |  9 Pagespaper is on workplace discrimination and the effects affirmative action has on it. Workplace discrimination transpires when an employee suffers from unfavorable or unfair treatment due to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other legally protected characteristic (Fevre, Grainger, and Brewer, 2011). The journal articles examined present different approaches and views concerning workplace discrimination, unethical activities in the workplace, and affirmative action effects andRead MoreAffirmative Action Policies Should Be Implemented891 Words   |  4 PagesAffirmative 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 actionRead MoreImagine A Student Named Billy Is Applying For A Scholarship.1001 Words   |  5 Pagesdidn’t. The answer is affirmative action. Affirmative action is an action or policy favoring those who tend to suffer from discrimination, and it is an outdated program that is creating unequal opportunities for non-diverse people. The history of affirmative action goes back farther than one might think. Affirmative action is not a new concept. It has been around since the 1961 when President John F. Kennedy signed an executive order that told employers to take â€Å"affirmative action to ensure that applicantsRead MoreAn Ethical Dilemma: Affirmative Action, Do We Still Need It?1706 Words   |  7 PagesEthical Dilemma: Affirmative Action, Do We Still Need It? An Ethical Dilemma: Affirmative Action, Do We Still Need It? Abstract This paper discusses the importance of affirmative action in today’s society and the ethical role it plays when Employers and Universities are considering entry to their respected places of establishment. The paper will conclude with what America will face in the future in terms of affirmative action. An Ethical Dilemma: Affirmative Action, Do We Still NeedRead MoreAffirmative Action774 Words   |  4 PagesAffirmative action is a practice that is intended to promote opportunities for the â€Å"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 actionRead MoreAffirmative Action : Discrimination Against Minorities1513 Words   |  7 PagesOthmane Ezzabdi AP Seminar Affirmative Action Affirmative action has been apart of the work environment in America since the 1960s until present time. Its main goal has been to suppress the discrimination against minorities and to give them a fighting chance to succeed in achieving their goal of living the American dream all in an act to counter the inexcusable racism and discrimination that has been inhumanely placed on to the minorities over a century ago in the United States; it will ultimatelyRead MoreAffirmative Action1160 Words   |  5 PagesAffirmative 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