How do I interpret what is meant by a "Voluntary" affirmative action form?

Question

I applied for a job with a ton of loaded questions on the application and right after I received an email from HR asking me to complete a "Voluntary" affirmative action form with the word voluntary in quotation marks. What am I to make of this?? I know it's optional but are they secretly hinting that I don't fill it out then I won't be considered?? Man! whoever thought applying for a job could be so stressful.

Answer 1

Well, you could always put principle ahead of profit, and decline to participate in racism. Just send it back blank, or if there is a space for comment, just say you decline to participate.

The quotation marks are probably there through ignorance, anyway.  Yet another fruit of the dumbing down of our educational system.

Answer 2

Technically these forms are voluntary, but the company is required to collect information on race and they are no longer allowed to use "visual inspection" to do this.  So they really do want you to fill it out and everyone does.  I suggest that you fill it out to fit into the normal employment process.