In 1972 the Orange County Board of Supervisors established an Equal Employment Opportunity Access program (EEO) to provide equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of race, religion, national origin, color, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, or sex. These categories comprise the protected groups under state and federal law.

The Board also established the position of County Equal Employment Opportunity Access Program Manager, who has the responsibility to plan, organize, direct, coordinate and enforce a countywide Equal Employment Opportunity Access program.

What is EEO?

EEO is the implementation of specific activities to ensure that an organization’s employment practices are non-discriminatory and that artificial or arbitrary barriers to employment are removed.

Why is an EEO Access Program Needed?

Work force profiles in public and private employment show that the mere passive prohibition of discriminatory practices does not produce equal opportunity. Because women and non-white persons have traditionally occupied lower level jobs, a vigorous EEO Access Program at all levels of the work force is necessary to overcome the effects of past discrimination.