Friday, October 26, 2007
Governor Culver Issues Executive Order To Enhance Diversity In State Hiring Practices
(Des Moines) Today, Governor Chet Culver issued Executive Order #4 to achieve and maintain a diverse workforce in state government.
“Our Administration is committed to enhancing diversity through the hiring and promotion practices of state government,” said Governor Culver. “It is no secret there have been some challenges over the past several years related to minority hiring and promoting. We have spent time identifying the problems, now it is time for action. For this reason, I have issued an Executive Order to address this important issue, and I expect all agency directors to follow it – no exceptions. Lt. Governor Judge and I have made appointments that are diverse and inclusive, and we expect our agency directors to follow our example.”
Highlights of Executive Order #4 include:
- Agencies must submit a written summary of their hiring practices to the director of the Department of Administrative Services for approval by February 1, 2008.
- Each agency shall develop a recruitment and retention plan that includes a timetable and achievement milestones.
- Each agency shall work with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services to determine ways to increase employment of persons with disabilities.
- The creation of a Diversity Council, made up of members of the executive branch (including the Governor), collective bargaining units representing state employees, the private sector and non-profit organizations. The Diversity Council is charged with (1) reviewing the state’s policies, procedures and practices related to the hiring of a diverse workforce and recommending methods to insure these are implemented and followed throughout state government; (2) developing a plan for training all state employees with respect to diversity; and (3) developing a state-government referral system for the referral of job candidates between agencies within state government.
- Agencies must submit a Diversity Plan to the Diversity Council annually.
- DAS, in consultation with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and the Department of Human Rights, shall annually monitor the application of the screening methods used by state agencies, assess their impact on employee groups in the selection process and counsel departments with regard to selection processes that pose barriers to any applicant group.
- Diversity training shall be required on an annual basis for all state employees making hiring and promotion decisions within their respective agency, including agency directors and deputy directors.
“Change is hard, but there is no doubt it is necessary,” continued Governor Culver. “I have appreciated working with leaders of the Hiring Practices Working Group, as well as others who have committed themselves to improving diversity in Iowa’s workforce. Iowa can do better, and I am confident we will.”