SEC Enforcement and ESG – What You Need to Know

ESG

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

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

EEOC

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

FLSA

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 The final rule, Independent Contractor Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, was effectively withdrawn on May 5, before ever taking effect.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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DOE Says Title IX Protects Against LGBTQ+ Discrimination

Title IX

A new document from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), Office for Civil Rights, brings big changes for educational organizations concerning sexual orientation, gender identity, and Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972.  The Notice of Interpretation signaled a new DOE interpretation of Title IX’s declaration that no educational program (public or private) receiving…

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Leveraging Technology As Part of Overall Approach to DEIB

Leveraging Technology

Employers are becoming aware that it’s increasingly important to make strides with regard to their Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) efforts. Choosing the right technology provider is key. According to a recent study from Redthread Research, companies that are “serious about implementing systemic change and seeking to achieve a lasting impact should look to…

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The Final ERISA ESG Investment Rule is Not So Final

ESG Investment Rule

What appeared to be the final ESG investing rule issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on October 30, 2020, is now in flux. The final ESG investing rule, which applies to a 401(k) or 401(b) type plan, had required ERISA plan fiduciaries to base investment decisions on financial factors alone, prohibiting fiduciaries from…

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How to Leverage Your Workforce Data to Meet DEI Goals

Data

Data is key to uncovering and resolving workplace issues around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). A recent Harvard Business Review article dives into how organizations can leverage their data to increase equality in the workplace. The article focuses on a white paper officially titled Goals and Targets for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and identifies four…

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Governments, Investors, & Litigators Are Focusing More on ESG

Focusing More on ESG

Companies need to know that governments, investors, and litigators are making environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria a priority. As a result, it won’t be enough for companies to simply claim they’re ESG-friendly; they’ll have to have mechanisms in place to prove it, or potentially face serious consequences. Governments First, let’s look at government efforts.…

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