March 19, 2026
EEOC Obtains $500K to End DEI-Related Race Discrimination Investigation
One week before the President will issue an Executive Order related to ending DEI-related discrimination, the EEOC settled this case. Following its investigation, the EEOC found reasonable cause that the employer unlawfully discriminated against white employees as part of its DEI-related program. How?
The EEOC found the employer:
- had mandatory “affinity caucuses” that were segregated by race, in which employees of other races were not allowed to participate;
- demanded that all employees attend DEI-related training sessions which involved repeated harassing and derogatory statements targeting white employees;
- on a weekly basis, required staff to attend one-to-two-hour sessions of either the segregated racial affinity caucuses or DEI training;
- denied white employees access to time off that it granted only to black employees; and more.
The examples above may serve as good illustrations of racially discriminatory DEI activities as compared to DEI activities that are lawful. Talk to your company’s legal counsel about your related policies, programs, or practices.
