California DFEH Sues Activision Blizzard for Systemic Discrimination

DFEH

Following a two-year investigation, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) sued the entertainment gaming giant, Activision Blizzard for systematic discrimination on July 21, 2021. Included in the extensive complaint filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court are allegations of “frat boy” culture, sexual harassment, unequal pay, retaliation, and gender-based discrimination.  The…

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Congress Holds Hearing on Pay Equity, Proposed Laws

Pay equity

Last month, in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion held a virtual hearing entitled, “Closing the Racial and Gender Wealth Gap Through Compensation Equity.” Among the matters discussed were two pieces of legislation aimed at closing gender and racial pay gaps. According to the House Committee on Financial Services, the…

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Biden Executive Order on DEI Has Serious Implications for Employers

DEI

Employers should take note of an Executive Order related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) made by President Biden on his first day in office. While the order applies only to departments and agencies of the Federal Government, it’s likely to have a far-reaching impact on private-sector employers as well. For context, Executive Order 13985…

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DFEH No Longer Accepting Pay Data Reporting Extensions

Pay data reporting

California SB 973 requires employers to submit pay data information on their workforce by March 31, annually. Did your business meet the deadline? Employers that did not meet the deadline for submitting annual pay data reporting for the 2020 tax year to the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) may be able to submit…

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Gap Between ESG Efforts & Expectations Becoming More Apparent

ESG Efforts

Companies today should be aware that their employees, customers, and shareholders are increasingly having “trust issues” with them. These organizations could face strong consequences from “talking the talk but not walking the walk” with regard to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. For example, while 80% of the U.S. population want companies to help solve…

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DEI Update: Nasdaq Seeks to Adopt Board Diversity Rule

DEI and Nasdaq

3 minute read In an effort to bring greater diversity to U.S. corporations, Nasdaq, Inc.. is “pushing to require the thousands of companies listed on its stock exchange to include women, racial minorities, and LGBT individuals on their boards,” said the Wall Street Journal, adding that Nasdaq has “filed a proposal with the Securities and…

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Why D&I Matters in the Financial Services Sector

Why D&I Matters

3 minute read Employers across the nation, and across the globe, are working to create diversity and inclusion (D&I) programs, not just due to increased regulation, but also to take advantage of greater opportunity. According to Deloitte, such D&I programs “can improve results, provide different perspectives, and [help companies] better connect with a more diverse…

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The Music Industry Spearheads Initiatives Against Racial Inequality

Music Industry Spearheads Initiatives Against Racial Inequality

2 minute read  In mid-2020, individuals on social media posted black squares across platforms like Instagram, creating a massive ripple effect. During the surge of the Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with news of racial violence brought to the forefront by the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the decision was made to initiate a blackout.…

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Experts Weigh In on Racial Quotas & DEI Initiatives

DEI&A, Workforce Data

3 minute read  As diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEI&A) initiatives become more commonplace, the temptation to institute diversity quotas can become a well-meaning road to a problematic organizational structure. While giants like Wells Fargo and Ralph Lauren joined a dozen companies publicly announcing a dedicated effort to increase the percentage of minority talent in…

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DEI Measurement, Analysis, & Implementation During COVID-19

7 minute read: COVID-19’s Assault on Equality It is well-known that the global COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequalities by race/ethnicity, gender, education level, and income. Here in Los Angeles, the mortality rate for the least affluent communities is four times larger than that in the most affluent communities. Black and Hispanic/Latinx death rates are more…

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