ELI in the News

Artificial intelligence, economic volatility and political unrest influenced how employers approached inclusion, equity and diversity (IE&D) in 2023. With a U.S. presidential election on the horizon in 2024, several workplace experts forecast the impact IE&D will have on employers and employees this year.

Phnesha Jefferson worked as a federal employee for over a decade. One of her more notable roles was serving as the chief of employee and labor relations for the U.S. Air Force. “My position afforded me a unique vantage point,” Jefferson said. “I am an African American woman who served in a leadership role, and I also managed the office responsible for employee grievances and often provided consultative services during the EEO [equal employment opportunity] complaint process.”

Since its establishment on July 2, 1965, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has been committed to its mission of eradicating workplace discrimination, both on an individual and systemic level. However, the EEOC’s recently unveiled 2022-2026 strategic plan highlights a significant shift in focus. Under the new EEOC plan, systemic claims will now be given added emphasis, highlighting the need for a proactive approach to comprehensively address workplace discrimination.

After one U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission member called a billionaire’s take on workplace diversity, equity and inclusion programs “dead wrong” on social media, three other EEOC commissioners used the same…

The employee was on vacation. At his private computer. On his personal Facebook page. Posting about protests in his city. But his Facebook settings were public. He blamed “Blacks”for recent protests that had turned violent, and he suggested what “should be done” to them. His direct reports complained. His supervisors suspended him without pay.

What if you could get your best employees to stay — forever?! OK, OK, aside from retirement — you have to let go at some time — why not aim for a better-than-average turnover rate? More importantly, why not aim for a better-than-average turnover rate with your best employees? So let’s build loyalty.

New federal data shows the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is cracking down on unlawful workplace practices. The EEOC filed 143 discrimination or harassment lawsuits in fiscal year 2023, which began on Oct. 1, 2022, and ended Sept. 30, 2023, according to a recent report by the agency. This represents a more than 50 percent increase over the filings from fiscal year 2022.

Since its establishment on July 2, 1965, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has been committed to its mission of eradicating workplace discrimination, both on an individual and systemic level. However, the EEOC’s recently unveiled 2022-2026 strategic plan highlights a significant shift in focus. Under the new EEOC plan, systemic claims will now be given added emphasis, highlighting the need for a proactive approach to comprehensively address workplace discrimination.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission proposed Monday enforcement guidance on workplace harassment after more than a half-decade of public debate and commentary. The document is structured around the three components of a harassment claim, including determining whether the harassment is based on an employee’s legally protected characteristics; whether the harassing conduct resulted in discrimination with respect to a term, condition or privilege of employment; and whether there is a basis for holding the employer liable for the conduct.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn affirmative action policies in college admissions raises concerns for many employers about the viability of workplace diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. While the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) noted that the decision “does not address employer efforts to foster diverse and inclusive workforces,” this view has already proven contentious.