Which rule describes the threshold to avoid Adverse Impact in selection rates?

• A. Female rate at least 80% of male rate.
• B. Male rate at least 80% of female rate.
• C. Rates must be equal.
• D. A fixed 60% threshold.

Answer: (A)

Adverse impact in selection rates is commonly assessed using the 80% rule. It compares the selection rates across groups and sets a threshold: the smaller group's rate should be at least 80% of the rate of the group with the higher rate. This protects against a disproportionate negative effect on a protected group.

In this item, stating that the female selection rate must be at least 80% of the male selection rate encapsulates that threshold when males have the higher rate. If females fall below 80% of the males’ rate, the rule flags potential adverse impact. For example, if males have a 70% selection rate, females would need to be at least 56% to meet the threshold; any lower indicates adverse impact per this rule. The other options either require equality or specify an arbitrary fixed threshold that doesn’t reflect how the 80% rule is applied.