Women’s History Month: Marking Progress on the Gender Pay Gap

Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation, a time to celebrate women’s contributions throughout America’s history. Beginning March 1, this year we honor “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.”  This year, there’s something to celebrate in regard to the gender pay gap, as progress has been made for the…

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Black History Month and the March Toward Pay Equity

Carter G. Woodson is known as the “father of Black history”— and for good reason. A historian and president of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASAHL), Woodson is credited with being the impetus behind Black History Month — initially celebrated as Negro History Week in 1926. He envisioned the…

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Why Environmental, Social, and Governance is Here to Stay

Described by its critics as “woke capitalism,” Environmental, Social, and Governance, (ESG) is facing something of a backlash. But that overlooks the far-reaching benefits to employers and investors.  A survey by The Conference Board (TCB) found that almost half of all businesses have faced ESG backlash. 61% believe that backlash will remain the same or…

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Breaking Gender Barriers in Mining: South Flank Case Study

A remote Australian mine is seemingly achieving the impossible in breaking gender barriers in the workplace. South Flank, a BHP iron ore mine in Western Australia, has achieved an impressive gender balance. 40% of its frontline employees and four out of its six senior managers are women. The ILO (International Labor Organization) defines gender balance,…

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SEC Enforcement and ESG – What You Need to Know

When most people think of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforcement actions, their minds probably jump to sensational crimes seen on the news, like insider trading and Ponzi schemes. Indeed, these do make up a fair number of SEC enforcement actions. But the SEC conducts hundreds of different enforcement actions every year, collecting billions of…

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OFCCP to Release EEO-1 Type 2 Reports in 2023

Beginning in the new year, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) will release several years’ worth of federal contractors’ EEO-1 type 2 reports. Employers were given a deadline of October 19, 2022, to object to the release of this data. If you believe there is an error and that your company is exempt…

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4 Steps For Helping Your Organization Celebrate Juneteenth

Juneteenth, or June 19, first became a federal holiday last year. It was the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. The monumental event was one of many critical changes happening across the U.S. and around the world.  While this year’s Juneteenth fell on a Sunday, organizations can implement measures…

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Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On the third Monday of January each year, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Although Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first observed on January 20, 1986, it wasn’t until 2000 that all 50 U.S. states acknowledged the event. The now federal holiday honors Dr. King’s birthday and the…

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EEOC’s FY 2021 Activity and the Future of Pay Equity Enforcement

The 2022 fiscal year is shaping up to be busy for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The agency experienced a boost in activity at the end of 2021 according to its Agency Financial Report, indicating the enforcement lull it experienced in 2020 is over. A message from EEOC Chair Charlotte Burrows affirms the…

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Pay Equity Implications of FLSA Worker Classification Rule Reversal

Earlier this year the Department of Labor (DOL) moved forward with its proposal to reverse a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) worker classification rule. The final rule, Independent Contractor Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, was effectively withdrawn on May 5, before ever taking effect. In the Department’s explanation, it said “the Independent Contractor…

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