The Need For Governmental Intervention In Combating Discrimination In Employment: An Essay.

Policies and Laws regarding EEO in the US

The need for Governmental intervention in the issue of poverty race, nationality, and ethnicity by the United States (US) is still considered vital. Since the country is often questioned for the effectiveness of its public policies in maintaining a non-discriminatory stand. United States (US) constitution prohibits discrimination on said grounds. Racial, National Origin, and Ethnic discrimination involves treating an applicant or employee unfairly because of his/her race, ethnic identity or origin, or birthplace. Both federal and state laws guarantee non-discrimination, but many states laws provide an added list of non-discriminatory grounds, such as place of birth in Vermont, personal appearance in Washington D.C., and the like.

United States (US) Department of Labor ensures non-discrimination based on national origin, race, color, and the like. The labor department provides for policies ensuring equal employment opportunity (EEO) without discrimination (National Archives, 2021). Due to several US Federal and State laws, it is considered illegal, if an employer or a company discriminates against any applicant/employee based on his/her race, national origin, or ethnicity.

The labor department requires public policies ensuring equal employment opportunity (EEO) without discrimination and it is against the law to do so. The social disorganization theory explains how unjust socio-economic factors paves a way for discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnicity, and origin. EEO advances economic opportunity to eliminate unjust economic factors. However, there are still some areas left by the government which needs to be acknowledged by the US Government. Even today, discrimination and crime are based on the grounds beyond individual’s control, such as, ethnicity, race, and origin are still prevalent in the US. EEO policy needs some changes to meet the problems of a dynamic society.  

United States (US) Department of Labor manages and monitors Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policy. EEO owes its origin to the early ’60s when racial and ethnicity issues were a hot cake. The dire need to have an inclusive workforce was felt and it became necessary to amend ways to provide equal employment opportunities. Later, in 1964, the Civil Rights Act was signed, which prohibited discrimination in the workplace (US Department of Labor, 2022). This Act is enforced by the EEO Commission whose guidelines and regulations are enumerated in the Code of Federal Regulations. EEOC also enforces the Equal Pay Act which provides backing to the EEO policy. On a state level, the offices of State Fair Employment Practices (FEP) discharge the functions of the EEOC under state statutes.

America has a diverse workforce. It has witnessed immigration from all corners of the world. Certainly, issues relating to race, origin, and ethnicity have been prevalent in Socio-Economic debates. The Federal and State Government of the US has laid out various policies, acts, guidelines to maintain its stand on Equality by attaining zero discrimination. One such policy which has been laid down by the Department of Labor is Equal Employment Opportunity. The scope of EEO is wide. It covers all the factors which could lead to discrimination in employment (EEOC, 2022). The most generic form of discrimination in the US workplace is based on Race, next comes Ethnicity and National origin. Governments at both levels have supported the idea of no discrimination in employment. EEO has made an enormous difference in the employment policy of the US.

However, the issue of racial discrimination is still prevalent in the US. Since it continues to witness huge immigration each year. Although Government through EEO has provided for equal opportunity to all but failed to address the crux of the problem i.e., limited opportunities. In recent years, the US has seen racial and ethnic discrimination. This is because of the feeling of ‘us’ and ‘them.’ The difference in social position or status also leads to discrimination. Both economic and social discrimination are interlinked. The government has succeeded in bringing non-discriminatory policy in the workplace but failed to socially implement it (ILO, 2022). Along with EEO Government needs to take extra measures in creating sufficient employment for all, then equal opportunity for all can be achieved. Both Social and Economic aspect of the discrimination issue can be resolved by surplus employment generation.   

Conclusion

Both federal and state government provides laws and policies to eradicate employment discrimination. The government laid out EEO to bridge the gap of economic inequality to ensure non-discrimination. EEOC has been successful in addressing the issue of Racial, Ethnic, and Origin discrimination in the US workplace. At the state level, FEP plays the role of EEOC. However, the government has been lacking in addressing the problem from the social front. This issue can be resolved by generating sufficient employment for all. The feeling of ‘us’ and ‘them’ can gradually disappear if everyone gets equal chance at landing a job.

References

EEOC. (2022). National Origin Discrimination. Retrieved from U.S Equal Employment Oppportunity Comission:

https://www.eeoc.gov/national-origin-discrimination

ILO. (2022). Discrimination at Work in the Americas. Retrieved from Declaration of Fundamental principles and right at work.:

https://www.ilo.org/

National Archives. (2021, 06 22). Equal Emploment Opportunity (EEO). Retrieved from EEO Program: https://www.archives.gov/eeo

US Department of Labor. (2022). Ethnic/National Origin. Retrieved from Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO):

https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/discrimination/ethnicdisc