Human resource diversity

Posted: November 28th, 2013

Human resource diversity

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Human Resource Diversity

The chosen law to be discussed is Equal Employment Act. This law protects employees from being discriminated by the employer, especially if they have qualified to be hired. The discrimination could be from any aspect like sex, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or any other subject to discrimination. This law is also keen when mentioning about age and disability discrimination. If an employee is qualified to work in a certain organization, he or she should not be discriminated even though he or she is disabled (United States, 2000). He or she has a right to be employed, promoted; enjoy job benefits and other privileges. Employees who are forty years and above, have a right to be treated equally with other employees and not to be deprived anything. Before this Act was implemented, there was widespread discrimination towards sex. Women have been considered inferior even in work places. They were paid less than men were in the same amount of work. Today, no one should be discriminated because of the sex (Shulman &Abernarthy, 1990).

This law was put in place to amend the Civil Rights made in 1964. It is applicable to the most private employers, states and the government. If any employee is sure that any part of this Act has been violated, he or she should sue for compensation. There are specific lengths of time that an employee can press charges of discriminating. The best agency to help such victims is the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). An independent body ensures the law of equal employment is upheld (United States, 2000). The law forbids anyone to retaliate after a case of discrimination has happened. An employee should not get back at his or her employer nor should an employer do so. If this happens, the affected party will be served with justice, and the guilty one will be charged.

This Act brought an institution called Equal Employment Opportunity program. Its main function is to ensure that there is fairness in employment, in all aspects. This law and program have successfully made discrimination not only a vice but also an illegal action. The programs in this institution include employment of affirmative action and determining the best remedies for the discrimination cases (Shulman &Abernathy, 1990). However, there is a wrong assumption made by some people that this law is only applicable to some groups of people. This is not true because it applies to all. A law does not govern some people but refers to all the ones who are in that country or state. This is the same case in this Act. It is part of the constitution, which governs the people (United States, 2000). Therefore, it is applicable to all the people. It should be noted that this act does not guarantee anyone any employment opportunities. There are so many other factors to be considered when one is to be employed. This law just makes sure that an employer does not take advantage of the employee.

The existence of equal employment policies and laws originated from the Civil Rights Act. It was in the 1883, when favoritism was abolished in employment. This was the beginning of this employment Act because as the years passed, it became more detailed. Today, it is highly specific on every part on employment and mentions how it will be handled. For example, there is Equal Pay Act. This Act protects people from being given different wages, for the same piece of work. Since they all of did the same work, they should receive the same wages. Today, there might be differences in remuneration depending on several factors like academic level, professional qualification, experience and other factors that may be considered. This does not violate Act of equal pay at all because there are legitimate factors put into consideration (Shulman &Abernathy, 1990).

The Act of Equal Employment was a relief to many people who had suffered before due to discrimination. The most common type of discrimination was color and race. The black Americans were not considered equals to the white citizens. Due to this situation, it was not possible for an African American to secure a decent job easily. The women also suffered because they were also oppressed by the men. This eventually stopped after the Act of Equal employment was passed (Shulman & Abernathy, 1990).

References

Shulman, S. N., & Abernathy, C. F. (1990). The law of equal employment opportunity. Boston: Warren, Gorham & Lamont.

United States. (2000). The story of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Ensuring the promise of opportunity for 35 years, 1965-2000. Washington, D.C: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.