Affirmative action

Affirmative action refers to policies and practices that promote equal opportunity in the workplace—especially for historically underrepresented or disadvantaged groups.

Homebase Team

Min Read

What is affirmative action?

Affirmative action refers to policies and practices that promote equal opportunity in the workplace—especially for historically underrepresented or disadvantaged groups. In the hiring context, it’s about making a conscious effort to ensure a diverse, inclusive team and to reduce bias in employment decisions.

While affirmative action is often associated with large corporations or federal contractors, small businesses can also benefit from its principles. Creating a fair and inclusive hiring process helps attract a broader range of candidates and builds a stronger, more engaged team.

What’s the goal of affirmative action?

The main goal is to correct systemic inequalities in employment by:

Expanding access to job opportunities for people of color, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities
Creating a more level playing field for applicants
Encouraging diversity in the workplace

It’s not about quotas or hiring unqualified candidates—it’s about being intentional in how and where you recruit and making sure your workplace is welcoming to everyone.

Is affirmative action required for small businesses?

In most cases, no—affirmative action is only mandatory for federal contractors or subcontractors that meet certain thresholds (e.g., contracts over $50,000 and 50+ employees). These businesses must create a written Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) and report their hiring data.

For other small businesses, it’s optional. However, voluntarily incorporating inclusive hiring practices can help you:

Attract more diverse candidates
Build a better team culture
Stay ahead of evolving workplace standards
Reduce the risk of discrimination claims

If you’re unsure whether your business falls under federal requirements, you can check the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) guidelines.

What does affirmative action look like in hiring?

You can apply the spirit of affirmative action by:

Broadening your candidate outreach – Post jobs in diverse communities or on niche job boards
Reviewing job descriptions – Use inclusive language that welcomes all applicants
Standardizing interviews – Ask consistent questions to reduce unconscious bias
Collecting voluntary EEO data – This helps track how inclusive your hiring funnel really is
Training managers – Teach hiring leads how to recognize and reduce bias

These small changes can make a big difference in the diversity of your applicant pool.

What affirmative action is not

There’s a lot of confusion around this topic, so here’s what affirmative action does not mean:

It doesn’t mean you’re required to hire someone based on race, gender, or background—qualifications still come first
It doesn’t create quotas—in fact, quotas are illegal for most private employers
It’s not about preferential treatment—it’s about equal access and fair evaluation

The goal is to expand opportunities—not limit them.

How to incorporate inclusive practices into your hiring process

Even if you’re not required to follow a formal affirmative action plan, there are smart, easy steps you can take:

Review where you’re posting jobs—are you reaching a wide audience?
Look at your interview process—are you unintentionally favoring certain traits or backgrounds?
Audit your job descriptions—are there barriers (like unnecessary degree requirements) that could exclude great candidates?

Tools like Homebase can help standardize your hiring and make the process more transparent.

Try Homebase Hiring & Onboarding to create consistent, organized hiring workflows that promote fairness and clarity.

How Homebase helps build a more inclusive hiring process

Whether you're required to follow affirmative action guidelines or simply want to promote fairness in your hiring process, Homebase makes it easier to stay organized and intentional. With built-in tools for job posting, applicant tracking, and onboarding, you can create a consistent, equitable experience for every candidate.

Homebase helps you:

Post jobs to multiple platforms to reach a wider audience
Standardize your hiring process to reduce bias
Keep hiring documentation and onboarding materials all in one place
Support team communication and training once your new hire starts

Sign up for Homebase to simplify hiring, support inclusive practices, and build a team that reflects your business values.

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