Inclusion · HR glossary

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal employment opportunity means access to employment decisions without unlawful discrimination. It concerns recruitment, pay, development and other work matters, with protected characteristics and duties defined by the applicable law.

By SmallHRTools · How we write definitions

Example

An employer assesses promotion applicants against the role's requirements and checks that selection does not rely on a legally protected characteristic.

What to keep in mind

The phrase is widely used, including in US employment law, but legal coverage varies. A statement in a policy is not enough without fair procedures and a way to address complaints.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Example

What to keep in mind

Further reading