A diversity program aims at creating a positive work environment where no one is advantaged or disadvantaged, whereas an affirmative action program aims at compensating for past discrimination What is a difference between a diversity program and an affirmative action program?

Diversity programs seek to benefit both organizations and their employees by encouraging organizations to value all kinds of differences such as race, skin color, religion, and gender while affirmative action is to compensate for past discrimination, which was widespread in the 1960s when legislation was introduced to prevent ongoing discrimination and to provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, color, religion or gender.

Explanation:

Diversity program includes demographic and personal differences. affirmative action is a policy for actively creating diversity. Diversity can exist even if organizations do not take steps to create it. Also affirmative is required by law for private employers with 50 or more employee's where as diversity is not. There is no federal law or agent to oversee diversity. Affirmative action programs and diversity programs have different purposes. The purpose of affirmative action programs is to compensate for past discrimination, which was widespread when legislation was introduced in the 1960s to prevent ongoing discrimination and to provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, color, religion or gender. Affirmative action is basically a punitive approach. Diversity programs are to create a positive work environment where no one is advantaged or disadvantaged, and where everyone feels comfortable. So, unlike affirmative action, which punishes companies for not achieving specific sex and race ratios in their work forces, diversity programs seek to benefit both organizations and their employees by encouraging organizations to value all kinds of differences.