Prime areas of concern in the American workforce.

Sociology 1: Fall 2002 Joseph DiLeva October 7, 2003 Former President Bill Clinton: "Our challenge is twofold: first to restore the American dream of opportunity and the American value of responsibility; and second, to bring our country together amid all our diversity in a stronger community, so that we can find common ground and move forward as one." (Chavez, 1998) This quote comes from a televised speech in 1995 which was about the issue of defending civil rights and equal opportunity. These are two prime areas of concern in the American workforce. Due to the fact the U.S. is comprised of ethnic and gender varieties, methods are necessary to compliment a standard of respectability and fairness. However, policies which are implemented in the workplace to create a fair and respectable medium can create problems and many debatable arguments. Some work related issues that are relevant to both ethnic and gender differences are: affirmative action, feminism, sexual harassment, and even the "glass ceiling." These issues will be discussed in relation to how they impose argumentative problems in the workforce. Therefore, an informative point of view will show how one can be affected. Neither issue will be presented in a "pro" or "con" perspective. Instead, an unbiased account will show various arguments that apply to each respective issue - enabling the reader to have

  • Word count: 4561
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Law
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In the United Kingdom, sex segregation of the labour market is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Discuss.

In the United Kingdom, sex segregation of the labour market is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Discuss. The role of women in the labour market has changed dramatically in the last decades. In the 1950's, when more than half of the male population were working, only a little more than a third of the female population were economically active. In the UK, in the year 2002, 84% of the male population and 73% of the female population were economically active (Irwing, 2003). Although there is an obvious increase in the number of women in the labour market, the majority of women are still concentrated in low pay, low status and gender segregated jobs (Davidson et al., 1993). Many procedures have taken place to give equal opportunities to both of the sexes such as legislations or special provisions to help women balance their lives between work and family, but the 'glass ceiling' is still there. In order to cease sex segregation, sex stereotypes need to adapt to the modern role of women in society. Nonetheless, there is a need for change in daily habits in order to change the population's way of thinking, and this will only change with time and effort. Sex segregation will be analyzed in this essay by examining the history of sex segregation, sex stereotypes, provisions and sex legislations against sex discrimination and typical difficulties women are faced with in the

  • Word count: 1782
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Law
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Sex Discrimination in Ireland - Pregnancy

Employment Law Ireland plc Solicitors 23 DCU St. Co. Dublin Dear Sorcha, I have learnt of your grievances involving apparent discriminatory behaviour by your employer in connection with your failed endeavours to gain promotion within the company. I am aware of the background to this matter and the complexities associated with the interview panel's decision. It is my duty to advise you on the extent of protection afforded by the law, the possible options available to you and the procedures that you must adhere to in order to formally process any claim against your employer. Firstly however we must consider the facts. Your initial successful application for the new position supplemented by your progression through the first round of interviews in August suggests that you were in strong contention for the post. These original accomplishments also imply that there is no company practice of preferring for promotion those employees who have shown geographical mobility in previous jobs or posts (which may be considered a disadvantage to women due to their 'domestic responsibilities- indirect discrimination, see footnote 2) nor is there any underlying "genuine and determining occupational requirement" for a male to be given the role.1 Therefore, with the company's acceptance of a female right through to the final obstacle in the promotion process, I believe we can discount this

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Law
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Is there now equality between men and women or is it just a myth?

Is there now equality between men and women or is it just a myth? In this essay the myth of equality between men and women will be discussed and progress made by women so far, for the fight of equality will be examined. Two areas will be mainly looked at; equality of men and women in the workplace and equality of men and women in the home. In the nineteenth century most women in Britain did not have many of the legal and political rights, which men had. Most women were dependant on men for money and support. They faced major discrimination at work and in education. A wide range of jobs and opportunities were not available to women. The main role of a woman´s life was expected to be that of a housewife and mother, having dinner ready on the table, looking after the children, cleaning the house and answering to her husband, while he went out to work to provide an income for his family. Women were seen as the weaker sex and men were seen as strong and the ruler. It was a strongly male dominated society. However women were not going to stand for this much longer and in the twentieth century began to fight for equal rights hence the uprising of the feminist´s movement. This was to be the start of a long hard upward struggle. During the twentieth century, there has been a gradual improvement in the status of women in Britain. At the beginning of the century the suffragette

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Law
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Data Protection

DATA PROTECTION The Data Protection Act has been a topical subject in recent press after the death of the two young girls Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells who were murdered by their school caretaker Ian Huntley. It has become apparent that the misinterpretation of the Data Protection Act by the Humberside Police force has led to such a tragedy. After great investigation during the Soham trial, the eight principles of the Data Protection Act were bought to the attention of the government and there had been an urgent call for analysis and review of the existing act for both in the interest of police intelligence forces and the safety of the general public. The Data Protection Act is an act that protects individual's data from being exposed freely and from being misused. The acts main objective is to protect individuals' civil rights and to ensure that the information held about them can be rectified or updated. There are eight main underlying principles that compose the Data Protection Act. "Information which is referred to as 'personal data' should be processed fairly and lawfully" (Bainbridge, 2000, Introduction to Computer Law). This is one aspect, which the Humberside police force had difficulty in understanding since 'it is up to individual police forces to decide what information should be retained.' At the same instance as choosing what information is being kept of

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Law
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Dispute Summary - Knight v. Avon Products, Inc.

Dispute Summary - Knight v. Avon Products, Inc. Elmer Enríquez Torres University of Phoenix LAW 529 - Legal Environment of Business Prof. José Matías Soto 0/09/2004 Workshop #1 Dispute Summary - Knight v. Avon Products, Inc. This case raised the issue whether a plaintiff in an age discrimination case under Mass. Gen. L. c. 151B must prove that she was replaced by a "substantially younger" employee or merely by a younger employee. In January 2003 decision the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, ruled that an employee must establish that she was replaced by a substantially younger employee to make a prima facie case of age discrimination. In October, 1993, Avon hired Mary Shea Knight, then 44, as a district sales manager in its Northampton District. Before being hired, the plaintiff disclosed the existence of her two stores to her direct supervisor, Helen O'Connell, the division sales manager for Avon's Patriot division (encompassing all of Massachusetts except for Boston and Cape Cod), as well as to Barbara Foster, Avon's regional human services manager. It was agreed that, if hired by Avon, the plaintiff would close her Lenox store and turn the operation of her Pittsfield store over to her daughter. Neither O'Connell nor Foster expressed any objection to this plan. In December, 1993, O'Connell was replaced by Carole Valvo, who also was aware from the outset

  • Word count: 1479
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Law
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CASE: Ann Hopkins - LEGAL CASE ANALYSIS

CASE: Ann Hopkins I. LEGAL CASE ANALYSIS A. Facts Ann Hopkins was a mathematician, college professor, mathematical physicist and systems management consultant. She had earned a masters degree in mathematics in 1967 and had worked at Hollins College, IBM, as a consultant for NASA, and for the major accounting firm of Touche Ross. In August of 1978 she began working at Price Waterhouse (PW) as a manager in the Management Advisory Services (MAS) department of OGS. PW was a professional partnership that specialized in auditing, tax, and management consulting services worldwide. In the 1980's, in its 90 offices across the United States PW had 662 partners; there were approximately 2600 partners worldwide. To become a partner at PW required going through a formal annual nomination and review process where subsequently there would be held a partnership-wide vote. Once attained, partnership was essentially a lifetime appointment. Partnership candidates in a particular year were called a class and a booklet was prepared for each class member. The booklets would include the formal application along with notes on counseling sessions, staff performance evaluations, partners' evaluations, rankings for the candidate in each of the evaluation categories, and comparative rankings of the class candidates. When the partners in a local office proposed a candidate to the admissions

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Law
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Taxman V Board of Education of the Township of Piscataway United States Court of Appeals 91 F.3D 1547 (3D Cir. 1996)

Stephen Warwick Prof. Boyd Spring '04 /25/04 Assignment 1 Taxman V Board of Education of the Township of Piscataway United States Court of Appeals91 F.3D 1547 (3D Cir. 1996) The 91 refers to the volume number of the reporter. The F.3D refers to the federal reporter in the third series. The 1547 refers to the first page in that volume on which the case can be located. The 3D Cir. refers to the abbreviation denoting that this case was decided to the United States Court of Appeals for the third circuit, and the case was tried in 1996. The Defendant (Board of Education of the Township of Piscataway) needed to reduce its faculty by one. New Jersey law strictly enforced layoffs, leaving the school board with no choice except in cases involving faculty members. The Plaintiff (Taxman) a white female business teacher had the same qualifications and was hired on the same day as a black female business teacher. In previous years, when a layoff came about the board had used a random process to determine who would be laid off. In this case, the board decided to use an affirmative action policy as a basis for retaining the black teacher. Plaintiff Taxman cried reverse discrimination. Circuit Judge Mansmann found in favour of the plaintiff and enjoyed the affirmative action plan, basing his decision on Title VII. Later the defendant appealed, but it was settled before it

  • Word count: 644
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Law
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There are several things to consider when comparing employment laws between different states. There are costs of hourly wages, the points at which overtime must be considered, amounts of taxes, hiring and firing processes and costs and age requirements.

There are several things to consider when comparing employment laws between different states. There are costs of hourly wages, the points at which overtime must be considered, amounts of taxes, hiring and firing processes and costs and age requirements. The cost of labor can greatly influence how profitable a firm can be. Washington, Idaho and California all have different minimum wages. The minimum wage in California is $6.75 an hour. The minimum wage in Idaho is only $5.15, which is the same as federal wages. Washington has the highest minimum wage at $7.16 an hour; it has been increasing noticeably in the past few years. The level of minimum wage will affect human resource costs that often are a big part of production costs. The overtime point is different for each of the three states. In Idaho, there is no overtime pay. Employees can work as many hours as employers want them to without getting any increase in pay. In Washington an employer must give overtime pay to any employee who works over a 40-hour workweek. Overtime pay is one and one-half of the regular hourly wages. In California regular overtime rates must be paid for any amount over 8 hours and double the regular wages for over 12 hours a day as well as 40 hours in a workweek. California law states that an employer can be sued for harassment if a manager or higher authority knew about the

  • Word count: 558
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Law
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Discrimination and Law.

Discrimination and Law 2003-2004 Formative Assessment "Legislative changes have been necessary to clarify when a chief constable can be found liable for discrimination committed by police officers in the course of employment. These can be viewed as a reflection of the recent legal developments which have extended the potential for any employer to be liable for acts of discrimination in the workplace, whether committed by the employers themselves or by employees." Discuss. Submission The essay, of no more than 2,500 words (inclusive of footnotes / references), is to be submitted by 4pm on Monday, January 12th, 2004 to Pauline Roberts, room 1.08. Refer in particular to the amendment 2003 regulations etc introduced by the macpherson committee etc etc...RRAA 2000??? WHICH ONE IS IT?? OR 2003?? Public authorities etc extended to police etc chief constables can now be vicariously liable etc etc etc.... Start with quote..... "The full force of the race relations legislation should apply to all police officers, and that chief officers of police should be made vicariously liable for the acts and omissions of their officers relevant to that legislation". In a speech made in the commons following the MacPherson committee enquiry into the death of black teenager Stephen Lawrence, Jack Straw highlighted the shortfalls of the current legislation, promising that the government

  • Word count: 1276
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Law
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