Strategy for Human Resource Management Lecture 7 HRM 765

Last Lecture The Motivation Function Translating HRM Functions into Practice Does HRM Really Matter? HRM in an Entrepreneurial Enterprise HRM in a Global Village HR and Corporate Ethics Fundamentals of Human Resource Management 8e, DeCenzo and Robbins

Topic Equal Opportunity Employment Fundamentals of Human Resource Management 8e, DeCenzo and Robbins

Learning Outcomes After reading this chapter, you will be able to: Describe the equal employment opportunity.? Describe affirmative action plans and protected group members. Discuss how a business can protect itself from discrimination charges. Define what constitutes sexual harassment in today’s organizations. Discuss the term glass ceiling. Fundamentals of Human Resource Management 8e, DeCenzo and Robbins

Introduction Government legislation affects all HRM functions Municipal laws impact HRM, as well as the Federal laws Fundamentals of Human Resource Management 8e, DeCenzo and Robbins

What is equal employment opportunity? Laws and Policies designed to protect the discrimination among the applicants. – Colour – Gender – Religion – Member of a particular group Affirmative Action: The requirement that organizations take proactive steps to ensure the full participation of protected groups in its workforce. Fundamentals of Human Resource Management 8e, DeCenzo and Robbins

Guarding Against Discrimination Practices Determining Potential Discriminatory Practices –The 4/5ths Rule –Restricted Policy –Geographical Comparisons –McDonnell-Douglas Test Fundamentals of Human Resource Management 8e, DeCenzo and Robbins

Guarding Against Discrimination Practices The 4/5ths Rule –Compares selection ratio for minority applicants to that for majority applicants –If less than 4/5ths (80%), discrimination may have occurred. – Applies to all steps in a selection process. Fundamentals of Human Resource Management 8e, DeCenzo and Robbins

Guarding Against Discrimination Practices Restricted Policy –infractions occur when HRM activities result in exclusion of a class of individuals E.g., laying off employees over age 40 while recruiting younger workers Fundamentals of Human Resource Management 8e, DeCenzo and Robbins

Guarding Against Discrimination Practices Geographical Comparisons Characteristics of the qualified pool of potential applicants are compared to characteristics of employees Fundamentals of Human Resource Management 8e, DeCenzo and Robbins

Guarding Against Discrimination Practices McDonnell-Douglas Test –Individual is member of a protected group. –Individual is qualified for job. –Individual is rejected. –Organization continues to seek other applicants with similar qualifications. Fundamentals of Human Resource Management 8e, DeCenzo and Robbins

Responding to an EEO Charge Employers should discontinue practices which cannot be defended. Practice reinstated only after –Careful study –Practice is modified, if necessary Three defenses: –Business necessity –Bona Fide occupations qualifications –Seniority System Fundamentals of Human Resource Management 8e, DeCenzo and Robbins

Responding to an EEO Charge Business Necessity –the right to expect employees to perform successfully –shown by demonstrating that selection criteria are job-related Fundamentals of Human Resource Management 8e, DeCenzo and Robbins

Responding to an EEO Charge Bona Fide Occupational Qualifications –Can be use when job requirements are “Reasonably necessary to meet the normal operation of that business or enterprise” – prison guards – washroom attendants Fundamentals of Human Resource Management 8e, DeCenzo and Robbins

Responding to an EEO Charge Seniority Systems –Decisions that adversely affect protected group members may be permissible if: –Based on well-established and consistently applied seniority systems –. –Promotion and pay plan. Fundamentals of Human Resource Management 8e, DeCenzo and Robbins

Current Issues in Employment Law What is Sexual Harassment? –Unwanted activity of a sexual nature that affects an individual’s employment Sexual harassment can occur where: verbal or physical conduct toward an individual: –(1) creates an intimidating, offensive, or hostile environment –(2) unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work –(3) adversely affects employee’s employment opportunities. Fundamentals of Human Resource Management 8e, DeCenzo and Robbins

Current Issues in Employment Law Are Women Reaching the Top of Organizations? –Comparable worth - determining fair pay for both female-oriented jobs and male-oriented jobs based on comparable skill, effort, and responsibility. –Glass ceiling - lack of women and minority representation at the top levels of organizations. –OFCCP has glass ceiling initiative. The invisible barrier that blocks females and minorities from ascending into upper levels of an organization. Fundamentals of Human Resource Management 8e, DeCenzo and Robbins

Summary What is equal employment opportunity? Determining Potential Discriminatory Practices –The 4/5ths Rule –Restricted Policy –Geographical Comparisons –McDonnell-Douglas Test Three defenses: –Business necessity –Bona Fide occupations qualifications –Seniority System Comparable worth Glass ceiling Fundamentals of Human Resource Management 8e, DeCenzo and Robbins