Final answer:
Equal employment opportunity legislation directly affects how sales managers implement their sales programs by outlawing discrimination and establishing the EEOC to enforce these laws.
It applies across all sectors, including sales positions, ensuring equal employment opportunities for all individuals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Equal employment opportunity legislation is a significant aspect of employment law that affects how sales managers implement their sales programs.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which is one of the key legal foundations of equal employment opportunity, outlaws discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, and sex. It also established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to enforce these provisions.
The idea that equal employment opportunity legislation is becoming less important due to a more culturally diverse sales force (choice C) is incorrect. In fact, as the workforce diversifies, there is a greater need for awareness and enforcement of these laws to ensure that all employees have equal access to opportunities regardless of their background.
Moreover, the legislation is not a form of consumer protection or antitrust law (choices B and D). It is explicitly designed to combat employment discrimination and does not have the primary goal of protecting consumers or preventing unfair business practices in the marketplace.
Also, contrary to choice E, these laws fully apply to sales positions, as they do to all other employment sectors.
Market forces can sometimes incentivize less discriminatory practices, as businesses that underpay or unfairly treat employees may lose them to competitors offering better conditions.
This pressure could lead to improvements in how businesses behave towards their employees.