Page updated Sep 24 2007 10:26 a.m.

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Affirmative Action

Alexandria's Affirmative Action Program ("the Program") is "a positive program designed to ensure that a good faith effort will be made to employ applicants without regard to race, color, sex or disability" (Sec. 12-4-3(a)). It embodies an increased understanding of how discrimination continues to impact individual life opportunities, while recognizing the tremendous benefits of diversity.

The Program originated from the Human Rights Code, which charged the City Manager with the duty of establishing an affirmative action program to aide the City in recruiting and maintaining a diverse workforce. The Program was to be developed by the Human Rights Commission and approved by City Council. The Ordinance requires the City Manager to report the City's progress to the City Council on an annual basis (Sec. 12-4-5(c)). Features of the Program were to include:

• Recruitment and Recruitment Advertising
• Selection and Selection Criteria
• Upgrading
• Promotion
• Demotion and Transfer
• Lay-Off or Termination
• Rates of pay or other forms of compensation
• Other Terms or Conditions of Employment and Selection for Training (including apprenticeship)
• Realistic and Attainable Goals, Methodology and Timetable for Implementation.

To facilitate the goals of the Program, the City established the Affirmative Action Officer position. Originally part of the Alexandria Department of Human Relations, which was formed in 1991, the Affirmative Action Officer position has since been integrated into the Office of Human Rights.

The Affirmative Action Officer coordinates the City's Affirmative Action Program by analyzing pertinent City policies and procedures, identifying and performing activities to recruit qualified minorities for City vacancies, and implementing programs to identify and eliminate potential or actual discriminatory practices or systemic barriers to EEO/AA. The Affirmative Action Officer also interacts with citizens, employees, business and civic leaders from diverse ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds in order to respond productively to identified needs, to promote an awareness and sensitivity to those needs at all levels of City administration, and ensure their consideration in City policy and program development.

 

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