Inside the Exclusive: DEI Developments: What Every Employer Needs to Know

In this podcast recorded at our recent Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive® seminar, Nonnie Shivers (office managing shareholder, Phoenix) and Scott Kelly (shareholder, Birmingham) discuss the rapidly changing and increasingly complex legal landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, focusing on recent enforcement trends and guidance from the EEOC and Department of Justice. Scott, who is chair of the firm’s Workforce Analytics and Compliance Practice Group and Government Contracting and Reporting Practice Group, and Nonnie, who is co-chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Compliance Practice Group, provide insights into new priorities, enforcement actions, and practical considerations for employers navigating DEI compliance, including the risks of rebranding or modifying programs without addressing underlying legal concerns. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding both current and emerging legal frameworks to effectively manage risk and opportunities in workplace DEI efforts.