NCJ Number
82995
Journal
State Court Journal Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1982) Pages: 14-20,39
Date Published
1982
Length
8 pages
Annotation
An affirmative action effort by the Fourth Judicial District of Minnesota to employ minorities and advance women within its staff of nonjudicial personnel is described, along with the results achieved.
Abstract
One aspect of the affirmative action program has been to reduce temporarily the degree of difficulty and responsibility of a position so that those with fewer proven skills and experience than would normally be required for the job can qualify. As the employee gains skill and experience on the job, duties and responsibilities are gradually restored to the original level. Relief has also been provided for minorities and others who have typically not made it through the examination process. Under amended rules, the personnel director is authorized to designate certain classes of positions as 'routine service.' The effect of this designation is to remove the examination requirement. Other affirmative action efforts have included (1) bilingual preparation for employment for Spanish-speaking applicants, (2) an expanded certification list, (3) targeting the hiring of minorities for temporary employment, (4) encouraging women to prepare for advancement, (5) on-the-job observation in lieu of a written examination, (6) preexam orientation, (7) postexam counseling for those who fail on the first try, (8) the provision of special exam conditions, and (9) the securing of outside financial assistance for hiring minorities. Although women still occupy a disproportionate share of the lower-paid clerical jobs and minorities have yet to advance to even the lowest supervisory ranks, significant gains have been made under the aforementioned affirmative action efforts. Sixteen notes are listed.