History of diversity and inclusion policies in the workplace
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History of diversity and inclusion policies in the workplace
1960s female office worker working at desk
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1920: Congress establishes the Women’s Bureau of the Department of Labor
Women postal workers at a sorting office, circa 1920
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1948: President Truman orders desegregation of the armed forces
President Harry Truman signs a proclamation
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1961: President John F. Kennedy pushes for “affirmative action” in federal services
President Kennedy speaks to the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee
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1961: JFK establishes President’s Commission on the Status of Women
President Kennedy meets with the commission which he appointed to examine the status of women
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1963: The Equal Pay Act becomes law
President Kennedy hands out pens during a ceremony
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1964: Discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin is prohibited
The hands of President Johnson rest on the signed Civil Rights bill
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1965: President Johnson signs order for equal opportunity employment in federal services
President Lyndon Johnson hosts a dinner meeting in the White House
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1967: Discrimination against workers over the age of 40 is prohibited
Employees work in an office inside the John F. Kennedy Federal Building
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1972: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission gains right to pursue its own lawsuits
President Richard Nixon makes a speech in 1972
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1973: The Rehabilitation Act marks first step toward inclusivity for individuals with disabilities
Handicapped citizens gather at the entrance to the John F. Kennedy Federal Building
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1982: The first company grants domestic partner benefits for LGBTQ+ workers
View of the Village Voice offices in New York, New York
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1986: Sexual harassment in the workplace is prohibited
Supreme Court building in 1986
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1987: The Hudson Institute publishes Workforce 2000
Secretary of Labor William E. Brock at a press conference
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1988: Congress passes the Women’s Business Ownership Act
Carla Cohen and Barbara Meade in front of their bookstore
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1990: Discrimination against individuals with disabilities is prohibited
George Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
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1990s: Employees successfully sue major corporations for discriminatory practices
Defense attorney Cyrus Mehri at a press conference on the racial discrimination settlement with Coca-Cola
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2010-14: Media outlets push Silicon Valley companies for diversity records
A bicyclist rides by a sign at the Google headquarters in 2010
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2014: President Obama signs orders supporting pay transparency and LGBTQ+ rights
President Barack Obama signs an Executive Order to protect LGBTQ+ rights
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2020: Discrimination against LGBTQ+ employees is prohibited
Joseph Fons holds a Pride Flag in front of the Supreme Court building