August 12, 2026
Employee Claims DEI Training Was Cruel, Alienating and Dehumanizing
In a lawsuit filed August 12th, an employee claims she was discriminated against and fired in retaliation after she complained about her employer’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training. What went wrong?
The employer scheduled “mandatory” DEI training and told employees they would be placed in virtual rooms assigned by their self-identified race. An employee expressed concern in advance as she was the only black person on her team. She claims she was told she would be able to participate with her other team members. But during the training the employee was placed in a “Zoom room by herself.”
After the training, the employee provided the following feedback, “Being the only Black person in the training, I was isolated and put in a position that felt profoundly alienating and cruel. It wasn’t just uncomfortable—it was dehumanizing. In 2025, in this political and social climate, the only black/BIPOC
person was literally and figuratively segregated and asked to leave the ‘room.’ It’s
egregious.”
After she filed a charge of discrimination, the employee reports some of her duties as Senior Program Manager were shifted to a coworker. She told her supervisor, “It feels like I’m moving from the driver’s seat to the passenger seat.” The employee was subsequently discharged, reportedly the result of a funding issue. However, another employee was promoted into the position of Senior Project Manager. This lawsuit ensued.
Lessons learned?
- If you offer DEI or related training, consider making it voluntary rather than mandatory.
- Consider not segregating participants by protected status, be it race, sex, or any other.
- If an employee expresses concern, ensure any subsequent and adverse employment action is documented as being planned prior to your receipt of the employee’s concern.
- Have your company’s employment counsel review your related training programs and seek guidance for limiting potential liability.
