What is affirmative action?
Affirmative action is a broad term used most commonly in the US for measures intended to improve access to jobs, training and career progression for people who have historically faced barriers at work. In the UK, it’s commonly referred to a 'positive action'. Under the Equality Act 2010,, employers may take certain steps to reduce disadvantages, meet different needs or help increase opportunities for people, regardless of their background.
This matters even more today as transparency and fairness needs grow. For example, the new EU Pay Transparency Directive now requires employers to provide pay information, report gender pay gaps and increase salary transparency to make workplaces fairer for everyone.
Things to know
- These approaches aim to promote fair treatment of all employees and job applicants
- Policies may focus on hiring, promotion, pay equity or training
- In the UK, ‘affirmative action’ is not a defined legal framework in the same way as in the US. The closest equivalent is positive action under the Equality Act 2010
- These tools among many to address past and present discrimination in the workforce
- Organisations need robust data and documentation to remain in compliance
- Positive discrimination (e.g. automatically choosing someone solely because of a protected characteristic) is generally not lawful in the UK, with limited exceptions
FAQs
What is affirmative action?
It’s a set of practices designed to remove barriers and increase representation of historically disadvantaged groups in the workplace. In the UK, this is usually referred to as posi-tive action.
Is affirmative action required by law?
This depends on local laws and the employer's sector. Some employers are required to follow these policies (e.g. public sector, government contractors) to ensure compliance. In the UK, positive action is permitted under the Equality Act 2010 in certain circum-stances, but it isn’t generally a blanket requirement.
How does affirmative action differ from equal opportunity?
It proactively seeks to address imbalances caused by discrimination. Equal opportunities, on the other hand, aims to ensure all candidates are treated fairly without favouritism or bias.
Does affirmative action mean hiring unqualified candidates?
No. Policies are designed to ensure equal access and remove unfair barriers, but they do not require hiring or promoting individuals who are not qualified for the role.
What are the benefits of affirmative action?
This approach helps build a more diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace and can bene-fit organisational culture, performance and reputation.
