The Changing Landscape of DEI

DESCRIPTION: This CLE examines diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace, from foundational definitions and historical context through the currently shifting enforcement and litigation landscape. Participants will begin with a breakdown of the components of diversity, equity, and inclusion, along with the historical evolution of DEI-related initiatives dating back well over a century. The program then turns to the current regulatory environment: a series of executive orders reframing DEI programs as unlawful discrimination, the EEOC's shifting enforcement priorities and guidance on what constitutes "illegal DEI" under current federal interpretation, and the Department of Justice's use of the False Claims Act, including treble damages, whistleblower incentives, and the extended statute of limitations, to pursue DEI-related claims against federal contractors. Participants will also review the ongoing litigation challenging these executive orders, including key court rulings, and how enforcement activity currently varies across the DOJ, EEOC, and OFCCP. The course also covers recent Supreme Court decisions reshaping discrimination law, including SFFA v. Harvard, Muldrow v. St. Louis, and Ames v. Ohio, and what their lowered evidentiary standards and equal-treatment requirements mean for employer liability going forward. The CLE explores practical workplace examples that assist an employer in meeting legal requirements while also ensuring a variety of view points and backgrounds to contribute to the mission. For accreditation information, check your Bar website or our list: https://www.clecast.net/accreditation. You will watch a video, be provided materials, and then fill out a certificate of completion should your state require that. Access to this CLE is available for 365 days following your purchase.