Tag: EEOC

Telework as a Reasonable Accommodation: Recent EEOC Guidance for Employers

Disability accommodation claims have long been among the most common workplace discrimination claims, but the recent increase has been unusually sharp. One major driver is telework as a requested reasonable accommodation. For employers managing return-to-office expectations, the practical question is whether there are lawful ways to evaluate, limit, modify, or deny telework requests when appropriate. […]

End of an Era? EEOC Votes to Scrap 60-year-old Demographic Reporting Requirements

On July 21, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted to approve a draft notice of proposed rulemaking that would rescind the EEO-1 report and related demographic data reporting requirements, ending an obligation that has been a fixture of federal employment compliance for six decades. While the proposal must still navigate the notice-and-comment process […]

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EEOC Lawsuits Signal Increased Scrutiny of Pregnancy Discrimination

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) continues to signal that pregnancy discrimination and pregnancy accommodation practices remain important agency enforcement concerns. First, on June 4, 2026, the EEOC adopted its new National Enforcement Plan for fiscal years 2025 through 2029. The plan specifically identifies cases that may help develop and define the scope of employer […]

DOJ Opinion Declares EEOC Regulations on Disparate Impact Unconstitutional

In response to a request from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Chair Andrea Lucas, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) on June 9 issued an opinion declaring the EEOC’s current guidance on disparate impact under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to be unconstitutional.  Background  The concept […]

EEOC Rescinds 2024 Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace

On January 22, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted 2–1 to rescind its 2024 Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace, No. 915.064, an almost 200‑page document that consolidated decades of agency positions and practices for preventing and correcting harassment. The Republican majority—Chair Andrea Lucas and Commissioner Brittany Panuccio—approved the rescission over the dissent […]

DEI Under the Microscope: What HR Leaders Need to Know

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 […]

Consider These Tips for Complying with EEOC Priorities

Employers would be well-served to review their policies, practices, and procedures to ensure that they are in line with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) current focus and priorities.  Pay Attention to EEOC’s Targets The watch words of “equity versus equality” underpin the EEOC’s targets for enforcement actions. According to official and unofficial statements made […]

EEOC Provides Guidance on Telework as a Reasonable Accommodation

In February 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued guidance titled “Frequently Asked Questions from the Federal Sector about Telework Accommodations for Disabilities.” Although it’s targeted toward federal agencies, the guidance draws on standards also relevant to private employers covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Alternative Reasonable Accommodations The ADA entitles qualified […]

When Good Intentions Create Risk: What the EEOC’s Coca-Cola Case Means for HR Teams 

Organizations and HR teams should pay close attention to the recent lawsuit filed by the U.S. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast.  At a high level, this case focuses on a diversity event that allegedly limited participation based on sex. But the bigger issue is not the event itself. It is what it signals about how these […]

Lucas Tells Fortune 500 to Avoid DEI Discrimination

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.  […]