What is affirmative action?

Affirmative action is a policy implemented by the government to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their race, color, religion, gender, or national origin, are given equal opportunities in employment, education, and other areas of life. It is a proactive approach that requires organizations to take specific steps in order to correct past or ongoing discrimination. In Virginia, affirmative action is illegal. This means that no employer, college or university, or other organization can give preferential treatment to an individual based solely on race, color, religion, gender, or national origin. Instead, employers and educational institutions must evaluate applicants on their individual merits and demonstrate that they have considered all applicants without bias. Furthermore, employers and educational institutions must act in accordance with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s regulations. This means that employers and educational institutions must actively ensure that they comply with the law in regards to equal opportunity and affirmative action.

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What is affirmative action?

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