Navigating DEI in a Shifting Legal Landscape: Practical Guidance for Employers

Labor and Employment attorney Tara Singh Param published a column in The Legal Intelligencer addressing how employers can navigate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs amid escalating legal, regulatory and reputational scrutiny. She discusses the post-SFFA landscape, recent executive actions targeting "unlawful DEI" and increased oversight by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), additionally noting that courts have generally rejected claims that DEI or bias trainings create hostile work environments. Ms. Param advises employers to use class‑neutral strategies, prioritize opportunity over quotas, maintain inclusive pipeline programs and conduct regular legal audits with manager training to reduce risk while still advancing inclusion-oriented goals.

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