Equal opportunity refers to a policy and practice whereby employment decisions are made based upon an individual's ability to perform the work. In addition to being a legal requirement, it ensures that the Laboratory comprises only the best-qualified people in carrying out its mission.
Diversity encompasses human aspects such as culture, gender, heritage, religion, personality, thinking style, educational background, and the myriad of qualities, visible and invisible, that make each of us different.
An affirmative action plan is a tool that is helpful in comparing the composition of the workforce relative to the available employment pool. In addition to being a requirement for federal contracting agencies, it provides a useful data point in the multitude of factors related to strategic workforce planning.
Diversity has become a prevalent topic in the workplace because America's workforce is becoming more diverse. In a report forecasting the workforce trends in the twenty-first century, the Department of Labor states that, based upon current trends, by 2050, almost one out of every two Americans in the workforce will be a minority, compared to one in every four in 1995. (Futurework—Trends and Challenges for Work in the 21st Century, 1999).
Add to that the global environment in which the Laboratory operates and you'll see The business imperative to fostering an inclusive work environment. It is crucial to enabling productive collaboration between people from divergent backgrounds.
While it's tempting to turn toward experts to address workplace issues, we can only create an inclusive environment where each of has the same opportunity for realizing our full potential by holding each of us responsible and accountable for behaviors that support such an environment. To create this environment on an institutional level, we must integrate principles of inclusion and equal opportunity into the way we approach all or work here at Los Alamos. And OEOD is here to support these efforts.
U.S. Department of Labor, (1999). Futurework—Trends and challenges for work in the 21st century. Retrieved Feb. 21, 2006, from Office of the Secretary website.
