Advice for both individuals and decision-makers.
Tag: Race
How did a white man convince a jury to award him over $10M for race and gender discrimination?
In 2013, a healthcare provider hired a white man—let’s call him plaintiff—as its Senior Vice President of Marketing and...
Have you ever heard of an “intersectional” discrimination claim?
A white man filed a lawsuit against a company claiming that it denied him a high-six-figure executive position because...
Hair discrimination isn’t unlawful. But, firing a black employee because of her natural hair texture is.
Congress has considered legislation several times that would prohibit employers from discriminating based on an individual’s hair texture or...
What Demographics Forms Say About Inclusivity at Your Company
Two low-cost, low-risk suggestions that can boost belonging.
In rejecting an employee’s claim that DEI training fostered a hostile work environment, a federal appellate offered a stern warning to employers
Earlier this year, I wrote about a white employee in Colorado who claimed his former employer subjected him to a...
It’s Time to Reconceptualize What “Imposter Syndrome” Means for People of Color
How racism, bias, and imposter feelings are intertwined.
How Organizations Can Encourage Productive Allyship
New research suggests that people from underrepresented groups appreciate acts of allyship more than people from majority groups might think.
Is it racist to falsely accuse someone of being a racist?
Let’s explore whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees against accusations of racism. The...
Can states legally ban “woke” training in the workplace?
In 2022, Florida passed The Individual Freedom Act. But most people know this law as the “Stop W.O.K.E. Act,”...
Can employers ban workers from wearing Black Lives Matter insignia to protest discrimination at work?
Photo by Brett Sayles: https://www.pexels.com/photo/slogan-black-lives-matter-on-black-board-4665903/ Last week, the National Labor Relations Board decided that a NON-union employer cannot require...
How to Build an Intersectional Approach to Talent Management
Many organizations now realize that their struggles with workplace culture and recruitment may stem from a monolithic approach to policies, processes, and mindsets.
Will training white employees on “white fragility” and other concepts linked to racism create a hostile work environment? Probably not.
Last week, I wrote (here) about a white college professor who successfully alleged that his employer subjected him to...
Training about racism can foster a hostile work environment. Wait, WHAT?!?
Wait a minute, Eric! Weren’t you just telling us that anti-harassment training is part of the backbone of a...
An EEOC Commissioner takes issue with a billionaire’s position on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Folks, I did not have EEOC Commissioner Andrea Lucas giving billionaire Mark Cuban a public antidiscrimination lesson on my...
Why DEI Leaders Are Burning Out — and How Organizations Can Help
Which approaches support the people charged with leading DEI efforts, and which drain them?
An employer’s response to a complaint of harassment doesn’t need to be perfect. Just ok may do.
Remember that AT&T ad campaign a few years ago where the mobile network provider touted how cell phone users...
Employee claims bias when employer failed to hire an inferior candidate.
“Uh, Eric, don’t you mean the superior candidate?” You’d think I would, but I’m reading what the Seventh Circuit...
A company supposedly awarded a black employee a trophy for “Least Likely to Be Seen in the Dark.” WTH?!?
Some people in Dallas do some dumb stuff. For example, every year, many locals hold out hope into late...
DEI Is Under Attack. Here’s How Companies Can Mitigate the Legal Risks.
Concrete steps companies can take to protect their DEI efforts in a shifting legal landscape.