"EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER" - what does it mean?

I'm applying for some jobs and in some job postings I see the following.

(Blank corporation) IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

What does it mean?

It just means that they don't discriminate you when they are considering you for a job. They only look at your abilities and attitude rather than your sex, race, etc.

they don't discriminate against anyone applying

(Blank corporation) is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, disability, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation or any other classification protected by law.

So "equal opportunity employer" is different from Affirmative Action in the states where Blacks and Hispanics are given preference for jobs?

Yes it is different. It means they welcome all applications, not like some countries in Europe or Asia where they specify things like Female below 34, must be 5'6" or something like that.

Affirmative action means that they use quotas to have a certain percentage of minorities.

Whats so hard to understand

equal opportunity employment

AFAIK it means the company is prepared to make special arrangements for people who need them.

i.e. physically disabled folks will have a special workstation set up which is more wheelchair accesible.

people who don't speak english well will have access to translators.

stuff like that.

don't think it has anything to do with race.

From http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/E-5.401...html#rid-50066 :

The purpose of this Act is to achieve equality in the workplace so that no person shall be denied employment opportunities or benefits for reasons unrelated to ability and, in the fulfilment of that goal, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment experienced by women, aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities by giving effect to the principle that employment equity means more than treating persons in the same way but also requires special measures and the accommodation of differences.

From http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/E-5.401...html#rid-50093 :

5. Every employer shall implement employment equity by

(a) identifying and eliminating employment barriers against persons in designated groups that result from the employer's employment systems, policies and practices that are not authorized by law; and

(b) instituting such positive policies and practices and making such reasonable accommodations as will ensure that persons in designated groups achieve a degree of representation in each occupational group in the employer's workforce that reflects their representation in

(i) the Canadian workforce, or

(ii) those segments of the Canadian workforce that are identifiable by qualification, eligibility or geography and from which the employer may reasonably be expected to draw employees.

...but also:

6. The obligation to implement employment equity does not require an employer

(a) to take a particular measure to implement employment equity where the taking of that measure would cause undue hardship to the employer;

(b) to hire or promote unqualified persons;

(c) with respect to the public sector, to hire or promote persons without basing the hiring or promotion on selection according to merit in cases where the Public Service Employment Act requires that hiring or promotion be based on selection according to merit; or

(d) to create new positions in its workforce.

It means that no matter who you are, where you are from, what colour your skin is, or what religion you practice, you all have the same chance (none) of getting the job ahead of the son of the cousin of the vice president of sales.

In some cases, it means the company sets internal quotas of minorities that they must hire to be "diverse". Don't laugh; I sometimes get told during an interview that it helps to get into their company to be non-white.

Originally Posted by Headhunter

In some cases, it means the company sets internal quotas of minorities that they must hire to be "diverse". Don't laugh; I sometimes get told during an interview that it helps to get into their company to be non-white.

what do you mean? And why is that? They said that to you? Are you white or non-white?

you all have the same chance (none) of getting the job ahead of the son of the cousin of the vice president of sales.

lol so true

It means the company is better at hiding their prejudice.

Originally Posted by alkaseltzer01

It means the company is better at hiding their prejudice.

Yes. It means that there is no company policy of discrimination based on gender, age, sex, or race, but that it is left up to the prejudice of the hiring manager