ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action (AA) laws and compliance agencies. It describes voluntary and involuntary AA compliance. The chapter also describes the impact of legal decisions in interpreting and enforcing AA laws. It explains how increased contracting has shifted the focus of AA compliance from employment preference to minority contractor "set-asides." The chapter also explains how diversity management differs from both EEO and AA. It explains how workforce diversification leads organizations to actively manage diversity by making changes in the organization's structure and processes. The chapter provides an overview of the three major strategies or policies utilized to achieve social equity: EEO, AA, and diversity management. Underpinning the need for a dedicated discussion of social equity and diversity management is the fact that the United States can easily be considered one of the most diverse nations in the world.
