ANGLAIS DEVOIR 1 BTS 1A

ANGLAIS DEVOIR 1 BTS 1A

The document is a radio interview. Chris Craft, host of the radio program the Workplace Today, is interviewing Julie Driscoll a member of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission whose role is to collect data concerning equal opportunity in the job market.

Today, Driscoll has been invited to speak about the Commission latest report concerning the charges of discrimination filed to the EEOC in 2010 pointing out an increase of 7.2% compared to the previous year.

The categories concerned and protected by anti-discrimination laws are ethnic minorities, women, gays, and the disabled. The highest increase in accusations of unfair practices filed in 2010 came from people who suffered from a disability. This may be because the term expanded to include a broader range of problems such as blindness, deafness, amputation of a limb, mental retardation and so on.

The unfair practices of which they accuse employers range from not hiring and firing to bullying, humiliation and overwork.

Two causes for this sharp increase are firstly the new administration’s interest in the issue which is more concerned about discrimination than the previous administration, and secondly the economic crisis.

The Obama administration has shown more interest in protecting workers against unfair practices and ensuring the enforcement of the law. Before he came to office, workers on the job were more timid about filing accusation charges for fear of retaliation of the employers.

The economic crisis seems to have triggered discriminatory practices. While unemployment has decreased from over 10% to 9% and consumption has increased, which are signs of recovery, the situation remains precarious: there are six job seekers for one job, which puts employers in a strong position, and enables them to discriminate more easily.

Employers and workers have a different interpretation of the charges filed.

The former question the charges, arguing that, in fact, the number of cases filed to the EEOC that are actually settled in federal court, has decreased from 314 to 271. They claim that some workers in precarious jobs are fearful of being laid off and file charges with the Commission so that it will be more difficult for the employers to do so.

According to them, most of the accusation charges are filed by disgruntled workers angry at being terminated, but in fact the lay-offs have nothing to do with prejudice. They also emphasize that because of the anti- discrimination laws, employers have to be careful in their lay-off practices.

On the other hand, workers say that the tight job market enables employers to be more selective, and that it can bring out hidden prejudices. In the complaints filed , women say men are preferred , blacks say whites are taking over their jobs, and the old say they are losing out to the young.

As far as Driscoll is concerned, she doesn’t deny that there may have been unjust accusations of discrimination filed to the EEOC. She agrees, however, that prejudice and discrimination do exist and she gives the example of WWII, to remind us that it is often linked to a poor economy.

She ends on an optimistic note. While more controls are needed particularly in the private sector, she underlines that anti-discrimination laws do exist, that a Federal organization (the EEOC commission) has been set up, and Watchdog associations are on the look out for unfair practices and violations of the laws.

The interview raises an important issue which is a problem in all countries. Setting up laws, institutions and watchgroups to protect minorities and fight against unfair treatment is essential. The main problem is organizing frequent controls and hiring enough supervisors to go out on the field to ensure the laws are being enforced.

Épreuve Type 1 2 Exemple d'interaction orale en anglais

Travail à réaliser 2

What is the role of the U.S. EEOC? What do the latest reports in the document show?

The role of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is to study and analyze trends and data concerning the workplace and be sure the practices are fair, and that there is no discrimination. If employees file accusation charges, the Commission studies them and passes them on to federal courts when they judge appropriate.

What statistics are given concerning the evolution of unemployment in the USA ? What are the consequences of the economy on the job market?

Unemployment has dropped from 10% to 9% but the job market is still tight. There are 6 candidates for 1 job, so that employers can be selective. It seems that this situation leads some employers to discriminate.

Charges of discrimination filed by employees to the EEOC commission increased by 7.2% between Sept 2009 and 2010.

Which categories of people are concerned

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