The ethical issues surrounding discrimination and affirmative action are problematic. Rights figure prominently in these issuesboth the rights of people who have been victimized by discrimination and the rights of people who now bear the burden of correcting past wrongs. Although affirmative action is often discussed in terms of being a remedy for past discrimination, it does have a contemporary purpose of addressing current discriminatory practices. One need only look at the persistent underrepresentation of certain groups in todays workforce population to see that discrimination is still prevalent in society. Disparities exist and are evident in the high unemployment rates among veterans and the disabled, for example. Serious pay disparities also exist with respect to race and gender. Justice requires that people who have been wronged be compensated in some way and that all people be treated equally, but the concepts of just compensation and of equal opportunity or equal treatment are subject to differing interpretations. There are many approaches to remedying past and present discrimination. Not everyone agrees on which approach best addresses discrimination in a most fair and equitable manner. Arguments based on utility provide strong support for antidiscrimination and affirmative-action policies; however, the benefits of any given policy must be weighed against the potential harms that may result. The ideal of a nondiscriminatory society is clear, but the pathway to it is strewn with formidable obstacles.

In approx. 20 sentences,. An employer can successfully defend a spiritual discrimination claim by showing that an accommodation request is unreasonable and would cause inconvenience to the employer. DIsccuss pros and cons. **