Implementing Public Programs: Equal Employment Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Administrative Policy Options

An increasingly controversial area within the realm of governmental hiring policies lies in the distinction between the passive or colorblind approach to equal employment opportunity and the results-based orientation more commonly associated with affirmative action programs. A national survey of urban personnel managers revealed a marked tendency to prefer policies perceived to be less compensatory toward protected classes and more compatible with merit norms. The authors conclude that the EEO bias characteristic of most city officials coupled with the staffing and personnel management philosophy of the Reagan Administration does not augur well for the future of affirmative action program implementation.