Posts Tagged ‘Diversity and Inclusion’
Starbucks Lawsuit Dismissal: A Triumph for Corporate Diversity Efforts
The National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), a conservative think tank, recently initiated a lawsuit against Starbucks. They lost. The legal action challenged Starbucks’ commitment to its diversity and inclusion initiatives, alleging that their efforts were not only discriminatory but that they also adversely affected the company’s financial performance. However, Starbucks has been a…
Read MoreWhat Employers Need to Know About Supreme Court Ruling on College Admissions
On June 29, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 landmark decision in the cases filed against Harvard College and the University of North Carolina. In the ruling, Justices indicated that both of these universities’ Affirmative Action programs related to college admissions violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. While focused on…
Read MoreSCOTUS Decision: Affirmative Action and Businesses
On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that admissions programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina (UNC), based on race, violated the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection. It was a significant affirmative action decision that, not unexpectedly, sent shock waves across the nation—not only among institutions of higher education, but across all…
Read MoreCalifornia DFEH Sues Activision Blizzard for Systemic Discrimination
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…
Read MoreCongress Holds Hearing on Pay Equity, Proposed Laws
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…
Read MoreBiden Executive Order on DEI Has Serious Implications for Employers
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…
Read MoreDFEH No Longer Accepting Pay Data Reporting Extensions
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…
Read MoreGap Between ESG Efforts & Expectations Becoming More Apparent
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…
Read MoreDEI Update: Nasdaq Seeks to Adopt Board Diversity Rule
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…
Read MoreWhy D&I Matters in the Financial Services Sector
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…
Read More