Final answer:
The correct answer is 'c) Disparate impact', which refers to practices that result in unintentional discrimination and a disadvantage to certain groups of people even though the rules applied are neutral.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that refers to unintentional discrimination occurring when members of a particular race, sex, or ethnic group are unintentionally harmed or disadvantaged through employment decisions is c) Disparate impact.
Disparate impact is a legal doctrine under the federal law that refers to practices in employment, housing, and other areas that affect one group of people of a protected characteristic more than another, even though rules applied are formally neutral.
While the employer may not have intended to discriminate, the result is a form of employment discrimination where certain groups are adversely affected.
Employment discrimination can manifest in labor markets when employers provide different pay or job opportunities to workers with the same skill levels, as measured by education, experience, and expertise, due to factors such as race or gender.
This could lead to earnings gaps, impacting the economic well-being and career advancement of the disadvantaged groups. It’s essential for policies to combat both intentional discrimination and the subtler, but equally detrimental, disparate impact.