EEOC Changes EEO-1 Race and Job Categories
- By Your mom
- •
- 01 Jul, 2008
Private employers with 100 or more employees, or those with 50 or more employees and
a government contract of at least $50,000, must file an annual EEO-1 form with the EEOC. The
filing may be done electronically through the EEOC’s website.
Beginning September 30, 2008, the EEO-1 form contains new race/ethnicity groupings,
and divides the old “Officials and Managers” category into separate “Executive Level Manager”
and “Mid-Level Manager” groups. Race/ethnicity categories have been increased from five to
seven and include: 1) Hispanic or Latino, 2) White, 3) Black or African American, 4) Native
Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 5) Asian, 6) American Indian or Alaskan Native, and 7) Two
or More Races.
Categories 2-7 exclude Hispanics and Latinos, therefore, if a person considers themselves
Hispanic or Latino (category 1); they are limited to that category and cannot select any other
category, including the Two or More Race category. For example, a person born of a Latino
mother and Black father apparently must decide if they fall into the Latino or Black category, but
cannot select the Two or More Race group. In contrast, a person born of an Asian mother and
Black father can select the Two or More Race group.
Given today’s workforce diversity and the difficulty categorizing individuals, the EEOC
strongly encourages employers to have employees self identify, provided any self identification
is voluntary and the information gathered is not used to make any employment related decisions.
The government suggests a two question approach. First ask whether the employee considers
herself to be Hispanic or Latino. If the answer is “no,” then ask her to select another category.
A person selecting Two or More Races need not identify the actual races comprising his
race/ethnicity. Where self identification is not provided employers can use visual observation.
In separating the “Officials and Managers” category into two groups the EEOC considers
Executive/Senior Level Officials and Managers to be those that “plan, direct and formulate
policy and provide the overall direction of the organization.” First/Mid-Level Officials and
Managers are those who “direct implementation or operation within the parameters established
by the Executive/Senior Level group.”
Failure to file timely reports may result in federal contract termination and debarment
from future contracts. Employers requiring an extension can request one by e-mailing the EEOC
at e1.extensions@eeoc.gov.
a government contract of at least $50,000, must file an annual EEO-1 form with the EEOC. The
filing may be done electronically through the EEOC’s website.
Beginning September 30, 2008, the EEO-1 form contains new race/ethnicity groupings,
and divides the old “Officials and Managers” category into separate “Executive Level Manager”
and “Mid-Level Manager” groups. Race/ethnicity categories have been increased from five to
seven and include: 1) Hispanic or Latino, 2) White, 3) Black or African American, 4) Native
Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 5) Asian, 6) American Indian or Alaskan Native, and 7) Two
or More Races.
Categories 2-7 exclude Hispanics and Latinos, therefore, if a person considers themselves
Hispanic or Latino (category 1); they are limited to that category and cannot select any other
category, including the Two or More Race category. For example, a person born of a Latino
mother and Black father apparently must decide if they fall into the Latino or Black category, but
cannot select the Two or More Race group. In contrast, a person born of an Asian mother and
Black father can select the Two or More Race group.
Given today’s workforce diversity and the difficulty categorizing individuals, the EEOC
strongly encourages employers to have employees self identify, provided any self identification
is voluntary and the information gathered is not used to make any employment related decisions.
The government suggests a two question approach. First ask whether the employee considers
herself to be Hispanic or Latino. If the answer is “no,” then ask her to select another category.
A person selecting Two or More Races need not identify the actual races comprising his
race/ethnicity. Where self identification is not provided employers can use visual observation.
In separating the “Officials and Managers” category into two groups the EEOC considers
Executive/Senior Level Officials and Managers to be those that “plan, direct and formulate
policy and provide the overall direction of the organization.” First/Mid-Level Officials and
Managers are those who “direct implementation or operation within the parameters established
by the Executive/Senior Level group.”
Failure to file timely reports may result in federal contract termination and debarment
from future contracts. Employers requiring an extension can request one by e-mailing the EEOC
at e1.extensions@eeoc.gov.
