Which of the following best describes "disparate impact"?

Disparate impact refers to policies or practices that are neutral on their face but have a disproportionately negative effect on a protected class. This concept highlights how certain employment practices, while not overtly discriminatory, can still result in unfair treatment of specific groups based on factors like race, gender, or age.

When a neutral policy leads to significant disadvantages for a particular demographic group, it can contribute to systemic inequality, even if there was no intent to discriminate. For example, if a hiring practice disproportionately excludes applicants from a certain racial background due to a seemingly unbiased criterion, it exemplifies disparate impact.

Understanding this distinction is essential in EEO training, as it emphasizes the importance of examining not just the intent behind policies, but also their actual effects on different groups within the workforce.