Action Workforce history

1970 – The Labor Department, under President Richard M. Nixon, issued Order No.4, authorizing flexible goals and timetables to correct "underutilization" of minorities by federal contractors.

1971 – President Nixon issued E.O. 11625, directing federal agencies to develop comprehensive plans and specific program goals for a national Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) contracting program.

1973 – President Richard M. Nixon signs the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which requires agencies to submit an affirmative action plan to the EEOC for the hiring, placement, and advancement of individuals with disabilities.

Awareness of sexual harassment in the workplace came on to the scene when the term was first coined in 1974.

Bakke, 438 United States 912 (1978) upheld the use of race as one factor in choosing among qualified applicants for admission.

Weber, 444 United States 889 (1979) that race-conscious affirmative action efforts designed to eliminate a conspicuous racial imbalance in an employer's workforce resulting from past discrimination are permissible if they are temporary and do not violate the rights of white employees.

1983 – President Ronald Reagan issued E.O. 12432, which directed each federal agency with substantial procurement or grant making authority to develop a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) development plan.

In 1984, it became one of the first companies to include sexual orientation as part of its commitment to nondiscrimination.

1985 – Efforts by some in the Reagan administration to repeal Executive Order 11246 were thwarted by defenders of affirmative action, including other Reagan administration officials, members of Congress from both parties, civil rights organizations and corporate leaders.

EEOC, 478 United States 421 (1986) upheld a judicially-ordered 29% minority "membership admission goal" for a union that had intentionally discriminated against minorities, confirming that courts may order race- conscious relief to correct and prevent future discrimination.

Transportation Agency, Santa Clara County, California, 480 United States 616 (1987) that a severe under representation of women and minorities justified the use of race or sex as "one factor" in choosing among qualified candidates.

The court also analyzed the constitutionality of the program in use when Adarand first filed suit in 1989 and determined that the previous program was unconstitutional.

1994 – In Adarand Constructors, Inc. v.

1995 – President Bill Clinton reviewed all affirmative action guidelines by federal agencies and declared his support for affirmative action programs by announcing the Administration's policy of "Mend it, don't end it."

They saw some success on the state level, as California enacted Proposition 209 in 1996, which prohibits all affirmative action programs in employment, education, and contracting.

1997 – Proposition 209 enacted in California which banned all forms of affirmation action “in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.”

1998 – Ban on use of affirmative action in admissions at the University of California went into effect.

Mineta, 534 United States 103 (2001) the Supreme Court dismissed the case as “improvidently granted”, thereby leaving undisturbed the 10th Circuit’s decision, which upheld the government’s revised federal contracting program.

2002 – The Sixth Circuit handed down its decision in Grutter v.

In 2005, three years before the federal Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act became law, the company laid down its own DNA policy, assuring employees that their genetic information will not factor into matters such as hiring, benefits or termination.

YouTube (bought by Google in 2006)

2007 – Proposal 2 enacted in Michigan banning preferential treatment of minorities in public college admissions, public employment, public education or public contracting.

Slowly but surely, the United States economy recovered from the 2008 recession – the largest since the Great Depression.

In 2010 IBM ranked among NAFE’s top 10.

2011 – Arizona enacted Proposition 107 banning preferential treatment of minorities in public employment, public education, and public contracting.

2013 – The Supreme Court once again upheld the notion that diversity in higher education admissions was a compelling state interest.

What started in the 80s with a desire for work-life balance will continue in 2020, with workers caring less about where they work and more about how they work with their team.