Affirmative Action
For years, affirmative action has been one of the most fiercely debated topics in corporate America. While proponents of affirmative action programs firmly believe that economic and social gains can be achieved through increased diversity in the workplace, opponents view affirmative action as social evil promoting reverse discrimination at the cost of better qualified candidates. However, before discounting the advantages of affirmative action programs, one must fully understand the prevalent misconceptions that opponents hold. 1. “You can’t fight discrimination with discrimination.” 2. “A large percentage of White workers will lose out if affirmative action is continued.” 3. “The only way to create a color-blind society is to adopt color-blind policies.” 4. “Support for affirmative action means support for preferential selection procedures that favor unqualified candidates over qualified candidates.” If affirmative action is a form of job discrimination, it would be grounded in prejudicial and exclusionary treatment. However, the main objective of AA programs is to include members of the society who have historically been excluded based on their color and race.
7. “Affirmative action tends to undermine the self-esteem of women and racial minorities.” Those who argue that unqualified candidates are being provided preferential treatment over qualified treatment fail to understand the repercussions of such actions as they are prohibited by federal regulations. It is illegal for affirmative action programs to hire unqualified or unneeded employees (Bureau of National Affairs, 1979). Ideally, firms aim to achieve a racial balance because such diversity fosters the optimal workplace environment for increasing levels of productivity. Consequently, hiring practices need to reflect this goal. However, once such balance is achieved, the criteria for judging a candidate must change. With diversity no longer an issue, HR directors must refocus on more pressing issues facing the corporate environment. It would be a grave mistake to assume that recruiting procedures follow a hard and fast rule. They must evolve along with the needs of the company. Therefore, it is extremely important to recognize that all affirmative action programs have an objective. Each program is designed to remedy the lack of diversity that exists in many corporations today. However, there is no guarantee that such remedies will be necessary in the future. As balanced is achieved, affir
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Approximate Word count = 885
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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