AAP Defined

Affirmative Action

Affirmative Action is one aspect of the federal governments efforts to ensure equal opportunity. Executive Order 11246 prohibits federal contractors from discriminating against employees on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, or national origin, and requires contractors to implement affirmative action plans to increase the participation of minorities and women in the workplace. Affirmative Action is preventive, proactive and inclusive. It removes preferences and other barriers and evens the playing field by promoting true equal opportunity.

Affirmative Action

Targets outreach to underutilized job groups
Helps prevent discrimination
Legally mandated
Measures good faith efforts in making affirmative action progress for minorities and women

What Affirmative Action is Not

Affirmative Action goals are not a quota. A quota is a fixed number and the OFCCP regulations expressly prohibit the use of goals as quotas.
Affirmative action does not create preferences for unqualified individuals.
Affirmative Action does not create reverse discrimination. Reverse discrimination is discrimination and discrimination is illegal under affirmation action.