Research Paper on Affirmative Action at Work

Introduction

Race refers to a group of people who have similarities and differences in their socially significant biological traits; they mostly exhibit the same ethnic characteristics. Discrimination is a broad term that gets used to imply various aspects, such as restricting a particular group of people's access to some services offered in a specific place. It also includes limiting a particular group of people from benefiting while others are benefiting and imposing heavy burdens on a given group of people based on considerations such as race, tribe, or gender. Racial discrimination occurs when one gets treated differently since he or she is not of the same race as the person concerned. The treatment offered to the person could be based on either a one-off or result from a rule or policy that gets based on the race (Ezorsky, 10). In this case, the treatment offered is not supposed to be deliberately unlawful. Some circumstances of racial discrimination are lawful. These include when considering the Equality Act of 2010. The Equality Act is a bill drafted and implemented by the United States House of Representatives in 2019 to amend the Civil Rights Act and prevent discriminations based on sex, sexual stereotypes or orientations, gender identity, and an individual's medical conditions. Racial biases are detrimental practices within the workplace, although they get curbed by affirmative actions that ensure equality and fairness.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

Examples of Racial Discrimination in the Workplace

When employees get discriminated against on a race basis, they may end up exposing and distorting the public image of the institution since they feel disregarded and are may lack interest in the company's wellbeing. Institutions should, therefore, ensure that employees are comfortable and fairly treated at their workplace. The discriminated employees deserve accordance with equal opportunities like their counterparts, fairly treated employees. It upholds workplace ethics and prevents distortion of the company's reputation. Racial discrimination at the workplace comprises of different types. First is indirect discrimination, which occurs when a particular organization, institution, or company implements a certain policy or a work performance method that disadvantages people of a given race. In some instances, racial discrimination is allowed if the employer has a convincing reason. Second is direct discrimination; it occurs when somebody mistreats another person on the basis that they are from a different race. The third is victimization, which occurs when somebody gets mistreated for complaining of mistreatment based on racial perspectives as per the Equality Act.

Affirmative Action

Affirmative action is a policy that is used by institutions and governments to improve service delivery and opportunities offered to minority groups. Such groups include minority genders, races, or sexual orientations that have been historically mistreated and discriminated by other groups that assume to be superior (Ezorsky, 22). The Affirmative Action term was introduced in 1961 by John F. Kennedy (Ezorsky, 22). He ordered that the government officials that offer contracts take affirmative action so that the contracts are fairly allocated. Employees should get treated without considering creed, color, race, or natural origin during the employment period. John F. Kennedy was advocating for equal treatment of all people (Ezorsky, 22).

Arguments for and Against Affirmative Action as a Solution for Biases in the Work Environment

People that are against affirmative action claim that it is outdated and not necessary at present (Arciniega, 155). They argue that it is should be opposed since it has resulted in reversed discrimination (Arciniega, 155). Through affirmative action, the focus is turned to the minority groups; they get a place for existence. It gets termed as positive discrimination. The other argument by people that are against affirmative action is that it encourages the employment of incompetent workers in both private and governmental institutions (Arciniega, 155). They claim that it entails the employment of less qualified employees since they originate from marginalized groups. Although affirmative action can lead to reversed discrimination, it should be implemented by different agencies as a law.

Supporters of the affirmative action principle claim that it is right since it provides the discriminated group that might be qualified for a certain job or opportunity with a fair chance to get employed and earn a living or benefit, respectively. Alternatively, they could be denied the job or opportunity based on their race. Without affirmative action, some people also might get discriminated at the workplace so that they resign to create jobs for the people of a certain race that the employer favors (Benokraitis, 21). Through affirmative action, employees that were to get discriminated against and disqualified from a particular job opportunity based on their race get a fair employment chance. Without affirmative action, the company may end up hiring people that do not qualify for the job since they are of the favored race; it results in an entity's failure. Affirmative action helps organizations and institutions hire or employ a human resource that meets the required qualifications (Benokraitis, 21). Employment should be based on merit and not on race (Benokraitis, 24). Organizations and institutions should adopt and implement affirmative action to shun racial discrimination since it can block an organization from realizing its goals and objectives (Benokraitis, 26). It may result in the company facing legal action from the discriminated employees.

My Position on Affirmative Action

In my view, affirmative action is right since it provides an opportunity for the discriminated group of people to get fair treatment and access to equal considerations. It provides a sense of belonging and comfort while at the workplace or institution of learning. When people get oppressed and discriminated against, their productivity lowers and may consecutively feel unwanted, thus seek to leave their work or educational institution. Employees discriminated against on a race basis may feel uncomfortable and even prefer not to work in the organization. It results in people of a certain race not being able to meet their basic needs and attaining their potentials. When employees get protected against racial discrimination and biases, they feel that they are part of the entire workforce or organization. It promotes competent employee production. Fair treatment of employees ensures employee loyalty. It enables the employees and company to earn a living and meet its objective, respectively.

Affirmative action is right since it enables the institutions to receive maximum services from their employees. When people are not discriminated against or oppressed, they are more creative and productive. They generate new ideas and work performance methods while at an institution. It boosts employee's cooperation and unity since they share, discuss, and modify new ideas for the benefit of the organization. When people get discriminated against, they cannot share their ideas with the rest of their workmates since their views may get disregarded and looked down upon on a race basis. Companies should equally and fairly treat their employees.

Racial discrimination slows societal or nationwide innovation and development. When people are racially discriminated during employment or in learning institutions, they get discouraged and demotivated from learning or applying for jobs that they qualify to undertake. If services get offered on a race basis, it promotes racial discrimination. It may have adverse effects on their livelihood. It promotes social injustices and social vices like theft

Solutions to Racial Discrimination and their Implementations

Since affirmative action is right, it should not get implemented in a manner that will result in a reversed discrimination. The measures implemented to ensure equity when treating people of different races should aim at maintaining and promoting equality (Nater, Christa & Sabine). For instance, when recruiting employees, people that do not qualify for a job should not just get employed since they are from the marginalized population. In contrast, they should get presented with a fair and equal job opportunity only if they meet the required set qualifications.

Affirmative action gets tasked with promoting equality and solving the racial discrimination menace. Affirmative action should not yield the oppression of the non-discriminated group (Miller, 19). The implementation of affirmative action should be aimed at obtaining the best services for all people. While trying to establish fairness and for existence for the minority group, other major races should still be put into consideration to avoid oblivion (Miller, 19). The existence of discrimination prevents the effective meeting of the needs of minority groups. Both the minority and the majority group should get considered with equal magnitude to avoid oppression (Miller, 19). Affirmative action's main objective is ensuring equality for all.

Conclusion

In conclusion, race refers to people who have the same ethnic characteristics. Discrimination is restricting a particular group of people from benefiting or accessing some services offered in a specific place. Affirmative action is a policy used by institutions to improve service delivery and opportunities offered to minority groups. Affirmative action provides an opportunity for discriminated groups of people to get fair treatment and access to equal considerations. Affirmative action should get implemented in all aspects of life. People should not get discriminated based on race since it is metaphysical. Oppression and discrimination of any kind should not be allowed since it adversely affects people's life. Through implementing affirmative action, institutions will get represented across all the groups of people, thus creating a unified public image. An excellent public image promotes an institution's or company's business; it attracts more clients.

Work Cited

Arciniega, Luzilda Carrillo. "The New Elite's Battle against Affirmative Action." Anthropology News 59.5 (2018): e151-e155. https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/AN.979

Benokraitis, Nijole V. Affirmative action and equal opportunity: Action, inaction, reaction. Routledge, 2019.

Ezorsky, Gertrude. Racism and justice: The case for affirmative action. Cornell University Press, 2018.

Miller, Conrad. "Affirmative Action and Its Persistent Effects: A New Perspective." California Management Review 61.3 (2019): 19-33. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0008125619849443

Nater, Christa, and Sabine Sczesny. "Managing diversity at the workplace: Can affirmative action policies increase interest in leadership positions?." (2017).