Final answer:
Affirmative action by employers may lead to reverse discrimination by potentially disadvantaging non-minority applicants due to the implementation of quotas aimed at correcting historical imbalances.
Step-by-step explanation:
Of the given options, affirmative action is the action by employers that can result in reverse discrimination. Affirmative action is a policy in which an individual's color, race, sex, religion, or national origin are taken into account to increase opportunities provided to an underrepresented part of society. This policy aims to counter historic patterns of discrimination by actively recruiting minority candidates and considering diversity as a positive attribute. While affirmative action is designed to level the playing field and ensure representative employment, it has been criticized for potentially disadvantaging non-minority applicants when quotas are involved, hence leading to cases of reverse discrimination.