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 […]
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 […]
This year, the conversation around Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) hit unprecedented turbulence. We saw pushback—not just from some organizations, but across various industries, even the federal government. Despite these setbacks, fostering a resilient, inclusive environment is more critical than ever. The businesses that embrace these values—and understand them as a strategic driver, not […]
Trey Anastasio, guitarist and vocalist for the band Phish, surprised “phans” by making a guest appearance with the psych-punk band Guerilla Toss on October 17, 2025, at the Brooklyn Bowl. He has a long history of making surprise guest appearances and supporting his fellow artists, including lesser known or emerging artists. For example, in 2022, he joined the indie-groove band, Goose, […]
A recent decision by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana highlights a critical lesson for employers facing workplace discrimination claims: All employee filings with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) should be heavily scrutinized—if an employee didn’t raise an issue in the EEOC charge, they may not be able to include […]
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Civil Division is sending civil investigative demands (CIDs) to federal contractors seeking information on their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices under its authority to investigate False Claims Act (FCA) claims. Flowing from President Trump’s Executive Order 14173, which seeks to limit DEI efforts, the DOJ recently launched the […]
On July 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a memorandum for all federal agencies titled “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination.” This memo directly applies to entities which receive federal funding, such as universities receiving federal grants or federally funded state agencies. In addition, the memo advises that entities […]