by Patricia A. Schaeffer, Vice President-Regulatory Affairs
A recent survey conducted by The Center for Corporate Equality reports that 29 percent of the companies polled said they will “never” resurvey their workforces under the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s new race and ethnicity EEO-1 categories.
These results come from a benchmarking survey conducted in April 2007 by The Center for Corporate Equality, a national non-profit employer association based in Washington, D.C. Companies from a cross-section of industries representing $517 billion in 2006 annual revenues, 1.3 million employees, and over 21,000 worksites responded to the survey. The survey asked whether employers intended to resurvey their workforces, the process they intended to use, the company functions responsible for the resurvey process, and the estimated costs to resurvey.
Key results of the survey include:
- Workforce Resurvey for the 2007 EEO-1 Report: Over one-fourth (28%) of the participants reported they will resurvey their workforces for the 2007 EEO-1 report submission. Seventy-two percent reported they would not resurvey for the 2007 report.
- When, if ever, will survey participants resurvey their workforces: Fifty-three percent of the participants who are not resurveying for the 2007 EEO-1 report indicated they will resurvey either later in 2007 or next year. Twenty-nine percent of the participants reported they will never resurvey their workforces. Eighteen percent are still unsure what they will do.
- Reasons for not resurveying for the 2007 EEO-1 report submission: Most (69%) of the participants who are not resurveying for the 2007 EEO-1 report submission reported they are waiting for OFCCP to release their EEO-1 guidance before resurveying or deciding to resurvey their workforces. Twenty-three percent also reported that resurveying was too costly and time-consuming, and 11% did not see the benefit. (Percentages total more than 100% because more than one reason was selected).
- Will participants use the“two-question format” when resurveying their workforces: Only 69% of participants reported they have used or plan to use the EEOC’s “two-question format.” The EEOC had recommended employers use the two-question format about race and ethnicity.
- Costs to Resurvey Their Workforces: Survey participants provided wide estimates on the actual and estimated costs, including HRIS expenses, to resurvey their workforces. Many participants responded they were simply unable to provide any estimate of internal costs.
About The Center for Corporate Equality:
The Center for Corporate Equality is a national non-profit employer association based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to promote proactive affirmative action, equal regulatory compliance, and other human resource management strategies to create diverse organizations free from workplace bias. Member services and benefits are tailored to senior corporate leaders from the EEO compliance, compensation, and staffing functions.