Is Diversity The Solution to Affirmative Action? Essay -- Equality Rac

IS DIVERSITY THE SOLUTION TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Equal employment practices, in many organizations, have been established through affirmative action programs. These programs were created by government mandate to create a fair and non-discriminatory working environment in organizations. The need for affirmative action was recognized as early as the 1940’s, as a concept, based on the racial diversity of our country. The goal was the redistribution of opportunities on the basis of race. Now as we approach the 21st century, affirmative action seems to be a dying issue, legally and otherwise. The fact still remains that we have a racially and culturally diverse population, here in the United States, and something has to take the place of affirmative action. Diversity seems to be the new concept of most public and private organizations, Many Human Resources specialist seem to believe that where there is diversity there is no need for affirmative action. In this report I will look at what affirmative action has done for us, and whe re diversity can take us. President Johnson formally created affirmative action in 1965; it initially targeted employers that held federal contracts. The originating document for affirmative action was Executive Order 11246, which mandated a race-neutral means of equal opportunity and created a level playing field for previously excluded people. Employees should be treated equally without regard for their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. With the passage of time, affirmative action received a broader definition and became the platform for women’s groups, civil rights’ groups and other minorities. The umbrella term, ‘affirmative action’, refers to a variety of highly regulated efforts used ... ... B., & Packer, A. E. (1987). Workforce 2000: Work and workers for the twenty-first century. Indianapolis: Hudson Institute and Washington, D. C.: U. S. Government Printing Office. Source: Carson Public Library Kessler, L. L. (1990). Managing Diversity In An Equal Opportunity Workplace. National Foundation for the Study of Employment Policy, Washington D. C. Source: CSUDH Library Loden, M. & Rosener, J. B. (1991). Workforce America! Managing Employee Diverstiy as a Vital Resource. Business One Irwin, Homewood, ILL. Source: CSUDH Library Riccucci, N. M. (Spring, 1997). Cultural Diversity Programs to Prepare for Work Force 2000: What’s Gone Wrong? Public Personnel Management, 26(1). Source: CSUDH Library Sunderland, T. (1996). "Diversity in the Workplace." <http://cctr.umkc.edu/wicc/wdpaper.ht Source: CSUDH Internet 4 November 98