Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
President Trump has signed another Executive Order (EO) banning “racially discriminatory DEI activities.” Contractors will be required to acknowledge compliance with multiple obligations, including potential access to books, records, and accounts, as well as for oversight of their subcontractors. The new EO further defines “racially discriminatory DEI activities” and “program participation.” Based on the newly […]
When the political landscape gets tough, how do you keep business leaders committed to building inclusive workplaces? During a recent panel on “Building Belonging Without Backlash,” Kitty Chaney Reed, the retired VP & Chief Leadership, Culture and Inclusion Officer at IBM Corp., shared that the secret isn’t talking about corporate buzzwords or policy shifts—it’s about […]
Most companies think they have an inclusive culture. The reality is more complicated. Many employees still spend more energy trying to fit in than doing their best work. People generally want to be included in the work that matters most to them. It is human nature. Inclusion at work is about being seen, heard, and […]
In the year since President Donald Trump issued a series of executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, the federal government’s approach has evolved from initial guidance to active investigations and other legal challenges to workplace DEI programs. Recent actions by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Justice, and Federal Trade Commission signal […]
Over the last several months, we’ve witnessed increased attacks by the federal and state governments over employers’ diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. It seems that the National Football League (NFL) is the most recent organization to find itself in those crosshairs. The Rooney Rule In 2003, the NFL adopted the Rooney Rule at the […]
On February 26, 2026, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Chair Andrea Lucas sent a letter to the leaders of Fortune 500 companies to ensure that their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs comply with civil rights laws, highlighting the agency’s recent efforts to rein in corporate DEI programs it claims “attack” principles of equal opportunity. […]
Almost two years ago, in March 2024, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued a Charge of Discrimination against Nike, alleging that aspects of the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) policies may have resulted in discrimination against white employees and job applicants. Most recently, in an escalation of its investigation, on February 4, 2026, the EEOC took the unusual step of filing a subpoena […]
On February 4, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit against Nike in the Eastern District of Missouri, claiming the company had not complied with the agency’s requests for information in its investigation that it discriminated against white employees and applicants. The case was filed in Missouri because the EEOC’s St. Louis office […]
Here’s a true story. Dennis is 28 years old and has Down syndrome. After high school, he lived in a county group house and spent five years stuffing calendars into cardboard tubes—reliable but unrewarding work. A former student of one of the authors, now a restaurant owner, hired him as a waiter. Dennis quickly mastered […]
Amid the focus on culling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and initiatives over the past year, employers must distinguish DEI efforts from core compliance activities, such as equal pay audits. Compensation reviews and audits should remain a routine best practice for organizations to ensure compliance with federal, state, and international laws. Additionally, such audits […]