Question

Harold has heard that it is necessary to have a diversity management program under some new federal law. What would you tell Harold about that requirement?

A. The new law won't be effective until a year after it was passed. So, there is no immediate requirement for him to worry about.
B. There is no federal law requiring diversity management programs. Sophisticated employers are moving in that direction because it is the right thing to do and production results often improve.
C. There is no law requiring diversity management programs, and employers should not consider moving toward such programs unless they are federal contractors.
D. The new law will require diversity management programs only for employers that have federal contracts to provide goods or services to government agencies.

Answer 1

No federal law requires diversity management programs for all employers; however, affirmative action policies enforced by the EEOC apply to federal contractors who have faced discrimination lawsuits. Many employers are adopting diversity practices voluntarily due to the benefits a diverse workforce offers.

Step-by-step explanation:

Harold, regarding the requirement for a diversity management program, there is currently no federal law mandating all employers to implement such programs. Affirmative action policies are in place, which are active efforts by governments or businesses to give special rights to minorities in hiring and promotion to correct past discrimination. However, these policies are generally only applied to federal contractors who have lost a discrimination lawsuit, as enforced by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

An increasingly diverse workforce and recognition of the benefits of diversity in perspectives and work environment are driving many sophisticated employers to adopt diversity management practices voluntarily, although no immediate federal legal requirement compels them to do so, unless they are federal contractors with specific obligations under affirmative action.