Fundamentals of Human

Resource Management
Eighth Edition

DeCenzo and Robbins

Chapter 3
Equal Opportunity Employment
 Introduction
Government legislation
affects all HRM functions
State and municipal laws
impact HRM, as well as
the Federal laws
 Civil Rights Act of 1964
prohibits discrimination in:
hiring
compensation
terms, conditions or privileges of employment
based on:
race
religion
color
gender
national origin
Applies to any organization with 15 or more
employees.
 Civil Rights Act of 1964
demonstrated that selection criteria must
be directly relevant to the job.
Equal Employment Opportunity Act
(EEOA)
Granted enforcement powers to the EEOC
Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC)
The arm of the federal government
empowered to handle discrimination in
employment cases
 Civil Rights Act of 1964
Reflect the basis that white males made up the
majority of workers
Companies in the 70s were still growing and could
accommodate more workers
Minorities should be hired to correct past
discrimination
Legal and social coercion were necessary to bring
about change
Involves:
analyzing current work force demographics
establishing goals and timetables for correcting
imbalances
 Controversy and criticism of preferences in
employment for protected groups is causing
legislative bodies to take a second look at
Affirmative Action.
Adverse (disparate) impact
occurs when there is a greater rejection rate in an
occupation for a protected group (those
protected under discrimination laws) than for the
majority group.
Adverse (disparate) treatment
occurs when members of a protected group are
treated differently than other employees.
Laws Affecting Discriminatory
Practices

Prohibits discrimination on the basis of

religion, color, and national origin
Affects
Federal agencies
Those working under federal contracts
Laws Affecting Discriminatory
Practices
Age Discrimination in
Employment
protects those 40 and older
eliminates mandatory
retirement and the random
replacement of older workers
with younger workers
provides for oversight in
pension and benefit issues
Laws Affecting Discriminatory
Practices
The Americans with Disabilities
Extends protection of Vocational
Rehabilitation Act to most forms of
disability status (contagious
diseases).
Requires companies to make
reasonable accommodations for
qualified applicants and employees.
Covers private companies and all
public service organizations.
Laws Affecting Discriminatory
Practices
Prohibits discrimination based on:
Political affiliation
Marital status
Physical handicap
Responding to an EEO Charge
Business Necessity
the right to expect
employees to perform
successfully
shown by demonstrating
that selection criteria
are job-related
 HRM in a Global Environment
Laws affecting Human
Resource Management vary
greatly by country.
Canadian laws closely parallel
those in the U.S.
In Mexico, employees more
likely to be unionized.
Australias discrimination laws
not passed until the 1980s
 Current Issues in Employment
Law
Are Women Reaching the Top of
Organizations?
Comparable worth - determining fair pay for both
female-oriented jobs and male-oriented jobs
based on comparable skill, effort, and
responsibility.
Glass ceiling - lack of women and minority
representation at the top levels of organizations.
has glass ceiling initiative.
Promotes career development
for women and minorities.
Looks for such in its audits.