What is an Equal Opportunity Employer statement?
In simple terms, an equal opportunity employer (EEO) statement communicates that a company is an equal opportunity employer. But even this can mean different things to different people, which is why it’s important to get your EEO statement right.
An EEO statement indicates that a company is in compliance with US federal law. More than that, however, it’s an opportunity for a company to announce its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and anti-discrimination. While EEO statements aren’t legally required except in specific circumstances — mostly relating to government work — they often appear on company websites, job postings, and annual reports as a way to signal to stakeholders, employees, and job applicants that a company is committed to being an equal opportunity employer. Even companies that are exempt from the law governing equal opportunity employment may use an EEO statement to announce that they choose to adhere to legal guidelines.
Why is an Equal Opportunity Employer statement important?
Federal law in the United States makes it illegal for companies with over 15 employees to “discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information”. But a good equal opportunity employer statement isn’t just about complying with the law, it’s about making your company stand out.
The right EEO statement sends a message to job applicants about your company’s culture, ethos, and commitment to diversity. Your EEO statement is a chance to communicate your values and convince job seekers that your company is the right fit for them. An adequate EEO statement will signal your compliance with federal law, but a good one will tell people something about your company and why it’s a good place to work.
What makes a good EEO statement?
A good EEO statement should be written in simple, direct language. You want to talk directly to your employees and potential applicants, so skip the legal jargon. Your EEO statement should explicitly state that your company is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other factor. It should use inclusive language — like using gender-neutral pronouns — and emphasize the importance of workplace diversity in all your hiring and employment practices.
You shouldn’t think of an EEO statement as a burden or obligation, but as an opportunity to showcase the positive aspects of your company culture and values. That means not wasting this opportunity by limiting your EEO statement to a single sentence. Think about what makes your company a good place to work for and how you can highlight those areas. Factors to consider include:
- Having a positive, inclusive environment
- Genuinely welcoming people from all backgrounds and walks of life
- Valuing workplace diversity
- Encouraging people to speak up who have different voices and experiences
The more specific you can be about your commitment to being an equal opportunity employer, the more genuine your EEO statement will sound. If you’re committed to specific equal opportunity practices – for example, in hiring, training, promotion, and termination — be explicit about those. If you have a detailed EEO policy, additional resources, or avenues for direct communication, link to them. And don’t forget to make it personal — a potential applicant reading your EEO statement should be able to get a feel for what your company is like and a sense of why they should want to work there.
EEO examples from top companies
To give you a head start, we’ve compiled a few examples to give you an idea of what a good equal opportunity employer statement can look like. These real examples from other companies highlight how injecting some personality into your EEO statement can make it feel more authentic and attract job seekers to your company.
ASOS
We are all equal!
We’re committed to creating an inclusive workforce. We believe in a world where you have the freedom to explore and express yourself without judgement, no matter who you are or where you’re from. Where you value yourself and feel proud of who you are. Where individuality is a source of confidence, because difference makes the world a better place.
Reddit is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to building a workforce representative of the diverse communities we serve. To bring community and belonging to everyone in the world, Reddit’s employees must represent communities and redditors on our platform.
Our vision at Reddit is to have a workforce representative of people with different perspectives and experiences, including but not limited to, gender, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, religion, and political views.
Lever
Lever is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations and will work with you to meet your needs. If you are a person with a disability and require assistance during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We celebrate our inclusive work environment and welcome members of all backgrounds and perspectives. Learn more about our team culture and commitment to diversity and inclusion. or learn more about what Lever Engineering is up to on the Engineering Blog.
Snap / Snapchat
At Snap, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to create innovative products that improve the way people live and communicate. Snap is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please don’t be shy and contact us at [email protected].
Uber
We welcome people from all backgrounds who seek the opportunity to help build a future where everyone and everything can move independently. If you have the curiosity, passion, and collaborative spirit, work with us, and let's move the world forward, together.
Uber is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing this form.
Google is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. See also Google's EEO Policy and EEO is the Law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing this form.
Resume Worded
Resume Worded is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our teams are critical to our success as a global company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.
Salesforce
At Salesforce we believe that the business of business is to improve the state of our world. Each of us has a responsibility to drive Equality in our communities and workplaces. We are committed to creating a workforce that reflects society through inclusive programs and initiatives such as equal pay, employee resource groups, inclusive benefits, and more. Learn more about Equality at Salesforce and explore our benefits.
Salesforce.com and Salesforce.org are Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employers. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.
Salesforce welcomes all.
Netflix
As an organization, we come from many different countries and our educational background is a range from the humanities to engineering to computer science and many more. Folks have the opportunity to wear different hats, should they choose to. We strongly believe this diversity has helped us build an inclusive and empathetic environment, and are looking forward to adding your perspective to the mix!
We are remote inclusive and our culture is unique. We live by our values. Please read more about the Netflix culture here.
Why are these EEO statements good?
These EEO statements are good because they’re a genuine reflection of the attitudes of each company — not just some mandatory fine print at the bottom of the page. They’re written simply and directly, as if the company is talking personally to the reader. They use inclusive language and speak to the company’s actual values beyond legal compliance. To underline their genuine commitment to inclusivity and diversity, some link to additional resources or invite applicants to contact them directly about any concerns or additional needs they might have.
Most valuably, the statements give insight into their company culture. The tone and content of these statements give applicants some idea of what it might be like to work for these companies, which really helps them stand out from the pack.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be an equal opportunity employer?
An equal opportunity employer is one that does not discriminate against employees on legally protected grounds. Equal opportunity employers may be required to:
- Grant reasonable accommodations to employees who require them for medical or religious reasons
- Keep employment records
- Provide equal pay and opportunities
- Create unbiased policies
- Respond to cases of harassment or discrimination
How do you write an EEO statement?
An EEO statement needs to mention that your company does not discriminate against employees on the basis of:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- National origin
- Disability
- Age
- Sex
- Genetic information
A good EEO statement should also include information about your company’s values, commitment to diversity, and links to additional resources for applicants and employees.
Do you have to be an equal opportunity employer?
You have to be an equal opportunities employer if you:
- Have at least 15 employees (20 employees for age discrimination)
- Contract or subcontract with the federal government
- Are bound by additional local, state, or federal anti-discrimination laws
What is an equal opportunity statement?
An equal opportunity statement communicates a company’s compliance with local, state, and federal anti-discrimination laws. Equal opportunity statements can be found on company websites, job postings, and annual reports.
What’s the difference between Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action?
Equal opportunity employment is a commitment not to discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of legally protected characteristics. Affirmative action goes a step further and means that a company is actively seeking out applicants who may have been discriminated against in the past, like specifically encouraging Black, female, or LGBT candidates to apply.
