What is Equal Employment Opportunity?
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) states that all employees in an organization must be treated equally, regardless of nationality, race, or gender. EEO typically focuses on employment decisions such as hiring, promotion, project allocation, and firing.
It ensures that all employees are given the same opportunities solely based on merit.
The basic principle of Equal Employment Opportunity
The basic principle of EEO lies in the fact that each employee is free to pursue a job based on their skills and merit, irrespective of any other factors. Employers are legally bound to make decisions based solely on an employee’s performance, whether hiring or firing.
EEO typically monitors the following employment decisions:
- Recruitment
- Termination
- Benefits
- Compensation
- Works hours
- Leave requests
- Promotions and demotions
- Transfers
- Bonuses and appraisals
Now that the core principle of equal employment opportunity is clear, employers must gain awareness of the body that enforces these laws.
Who ensures that EEO laws are being followed?
Equal employment opportunity is not just a practice to maintain a good culture, it is mandated by law. There are federal agencies responsible for enforcing equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws. Two of these agencies are the Civil Rights Center (CRC) and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) within the Department of Labor.
The CRC ensures equal opportunity in federally funded programs and activities, as well as within the Department of Labor itself. The OFCCP oversees companies with federal contracts, ensuring they don’t discriminate based on race, gender, religion, and more. They also ensure compliance with affirmative action requirements.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a federal agency that enforces civil rights laws related to employment. They enforce laws like the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Equal Pay Act. The EEOC handles discrimination complaints from employees and job applicants, but it applies to employers with at least 15 employees. However, some states have lower thresholds, allowing employees to file claims against smaller employers. The EEOC investigates complaints by collecting evidence and interviewing relevant parties. If they decide not to file a lawsuit, a “Notice of the Right to Sue” is issued to the individual, who can then pursue their own legal action.
Benefits of Equal Employment Opportunity
Equal employment opportunity as a practice brings along a lot of benefits in an organization, some of them are:
Ensures diversity and boosts culture
An organization that actively makes efforts to boost EEO gains a diverse set of the talent pool. Cultural diversity boosts employee engagement and helps co-workers take an inters in each other’s backgrounds. In lieu of the same, organizations are also encouraged to conduct ice-breaker sessions, activities, and games to promote employee bonding.
Attracts global talent
Equal employment opportunity encourages people to look for jobs outside their home countries. This helps employers in international hiring, especially in times of talent crunch. Moreover, it helps employers gain access to global talent and find the best candidates to fill open positions.
Increases overall productivity
A diverse talent pool coupled with a good culture is two of the key aspects of employee satisfaction. A positive, open, and equal work environment keeps the employees motivated in the long run and ensures the extra productivity that every business needs to stand out.
Provisioning equal employment opportunities is mandatory for every business, but not every organization takes advantage of it. Hiring international employees is the best first step to globalization and creating a diverse workforce.
Yes, global compliance and international employment laws are challenging to navigate through, but that can easily be solved with an employer of record.
How Multiplier can help boost your EEO practice
We at Multiplier provide international employer of record (EOR) services in over 150 countries around the globe. We help with onboarding, tracking, payroll, and benefits.
Our best-in-industry product ensures 100% compliance in every country, timely payments, and easy employee tracking. Our user-friendly dashboard presents key information like employee details, payroll status, leave tracking, etc., in just a few simple clicks.
International hiring is one of the best ways to demonstrate equal employment opportunity in your organization, and Multiplier can help you with that without the exorbitant costs of setting up foreign entities.
Sounds interesting? Book a demo now!
