Race-Based Discrimination in EmploymentTitle VII of the Civil Rights Act and various other federal and state laws prohibit intentional discrimination based on ancestry or ethnic origin. Some employers practice blatant forms of discrimination against minorities by paying lower wages and other compensation to blacks and Hispanics. Others engage in quota systems by denying promotions and jobs to individuals on the basis of their race or color. Federal laws prohibit employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating based on race or color. Virtually all states have even stricter anti-discrimination laws aimed at combating racial and minority discrimination in employment. In some states, businesses with fewer than eight employees can be found guilty of discrimination. Federal and state laws generally prohibit private employers, unions, and state and local government agencies from denying promotions, transfers, or assignments on the basis of race or race. color or penalize workers with reduced privileges, reduced employment opportunities, and reduced pay on the basis of race or color. Typically, the EEOC or a related state agency will investigate charges of racial discrimination or race-related retaliation. The EEOC has broad powers to secure company information and records through subpoenas, field investigations, audits, and witness interviews, both employees and foreigners. Statistical data may be presented to demonstrate a pattern or practice of discriminatory behavior. As with other forms of discrimination, the contents of an individual's personnel file and those of others in similar situations are often examined. Data on workplace composition may reveal a pattern or practice of exclusion or channeling. Regional or national...... middle of article ...... address issues related to a history of discrimination in this country that has excluded minorities and women from obtaining certain types of jobs . These programs attempt to address many years of discrimination by giving preference to minority groups in decisions related to hiring, training, and promotions within a company. Although laws have been passed to prohibit discrimination based on race, religion, age, and gender, they alone have not been enough to compensate for the many years of exclusionary practices. Affirmative action programs, although controversial, aim to provide access to areas of employment that were previously denied to women and minorities.BibliographyPreskar, Georgiana. Diversity addiction: the cause and the cure. 1st. United States: AuthorHouse, 1999. “Employment Discrimination: Overview.” Department of Labor. June 29 2008 .