Executive Order 11246

Definition

Executive Order 11246 is a landmark policy enacted in 1965 that prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. It aims to promote equal employment opportunity and affirmative action in the workplace.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Executive Order 11246 was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, building upon earlier executive orders aimed at promoting equal opportunity in federal employment.
2. The order requires federal contractors and subcontractors to take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed and that employees are treated during employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
3. Compliance with Executive Order 11246 is enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), which can impose penalties on non-compliant contractors.
4. The order applies to businesses and organizations that have federal contracts or subcontracts worth more than $10,000, and it covers all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, recruitment, advertising, layoff, termination, and rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
5. Executive Order 11246 has been expanded over time to include additional protected characteristics, such as sexual orientation and gender identity, and has played a significant role in advancing civil rights and equal employment opportunities in the United States.

Review Questions

• Explain how Executive Order 11246 promotes civil rights and equal employment opportunities.
  • Executive Order 11246 promotes civil rights and equal employment opportunities by prohibiting federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating in employment decisions based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. The order requires these employers to take affirmative action to ensure that all individuals are treated fairly and have equal access to job opportunities, regardless of their background. This has helped to address historical patterns of discrimination and underrepresentation in the workforce, advancing the goals of the civil rights movement.
• Describe the role of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) in enforcing Executive Order 11246.
  • The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), a division of the U.S. Department of Labor, is responsible for enforcing Executive Order 11246. The OFCCP monitors federal contractors and subcontractors to ensure they are complying with the order's requirements, including conducting regular compliance reviews and investigations. The OFCCP has the authority to impose penalties, such as the cancellation of contracts or debarment from future federal contracts, on employers found to be in violation of the order. By actively enforcing the provisions of Executive Order 11246, the OFCCP plays a crucial role in promoting and protecting equal employment opportunities in the federal contractor workforce.
• Analyze how the expansion of Executive Order 11246 over time to include additional protected characteristics has impacted the advancement of civil rights in the United States.
  • The expansion of Executive Order 11246 to include additional protected characteristics, such as sexual orientation and gender identity, has significantly contributed to the advancement of civil rights in the United States. By prohibiting discrimination based on these characteristics, the order has helped to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, have equal access to employment opportunities with federal contractors. This has helped to address historical patterns of discrimination and marginalization, and has played a crucial role in promoting greater inclusion and diversity in the workplace. The ongoing evolution of Executive Order 11246 to keep pace with changing social norms and legal developments reflects the government's commitment to continuously advancing civil rights and promoting equal opportunities for all.

Related terms

Affirmative Action: Affirmative action refers to policies and programs that seek to provide equal opportunities for individuals from historically underrepresented or disadvantaged groups, such as racial minorities and women, in employment, education, and other areas.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO): Equal employment opportunity is the principle of treating all people fairly and equally in the workplace, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Federal Contractor: A federal contractor is a business or organization that has a contract to provide goods or services to the U.S. government, and is therefore subject to the requirements of Executive Order 11246.