Executive Order 11246

Definition

Executive Order 11246 is a landmark federal policy that prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. It applies to federal contractors and subcontractors, requiring them to take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity in all aspects of employment.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Executive Order 11246 was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, building upon previous executive orders that prohibited discrimination in federal employment.
2. The order requires federal contractors and subcontractors to take proactive steps to ensure equal employment opportunities, including developing written affirmative action programs.
3. Compliance with Executive Order 11246 is monitored and enforced by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), a division of the U.S. Department of Labor.
4. Violations of Executive Order 11246 can result in contract cancellation, debarment from future contracts, and other penalties for federal contractors.
5. The order has been expanded over time to include additional protected characteristics, such as sexual orientation and gender identity.

Review Questions

• Explain the purpose and key requirements of Executive Order 11246.
  • The primary purpose of Executive Order 11246 is to prohibit discrimination in employment by federal contractors and subcontractors based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. The order requires these organizations to take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, and compensation. Contractors must develop and implement written affirmative action programs to demonstrate their compliance with the order.
• Describe the role of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) in enforcing Executive Order 11246.
  • The OFCCP, a division of the U.S. Department of Labor, is responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with Executive Order 11246. The OFCCP conducts compliance reviews, investigates complaints, and can impose penalties on federal contractors found to be in violation of the order, such as contract cancellation, debarment from future contracts, and other sanctions. The OFCCP plays a crucial role in ensuring that federal contractors uphold their obligations to provide equal employment opportunities and engage in affirmative action practices.
• Analyze how Executive Order 11246 has evolved over time to address emerging issues related to sexual identification and orientation.
  • Over the years, Executive Order 11246 has been expanded to include additional protected characteristics, such as sexual orientation and gender identity. These expansions reflect the evolving understanding of the importance of protecting individuals from discrimination based on their sexual identification and orientation. By prohibiting discrimination on these grounds, the order helps to ensure that federal contractors and subcontractors create inclusive and equitable workplaces that value diversity and provide equal opportunities for all employees, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This evolution of the order demonstrates its adaptability in addressing emerging issues related to sexual identification and orientation in the workplace.

Related terms

Affirmative Action: A set of policies and practices 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): The principle of treating all people fairly and equally in the workplace, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

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