• videocam Live Webinar with Live Q&A
  • calendar_month July 8, 2026 @ 1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT
  • signal_cellular_alt Intermediate
  • card_travel Employment & Workers Comp
  • schedule 90 minutes

EEOC Anti-DEI Initiatives: Latest Agency Guidance and Enforcement Trends; Best Practices for Employer Policy Development

Early Bird Pricing!
MSRP
$297.00
$252.45
Save $44.55

Discount expires 6/24/26

This course is $0 with these passes:

CLE
ALL
  1. keyboard_arrow_leftBack

About the Course

Introduction

This CLE webinar will examine the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) anti-DEI initiatives and what the agency considers to be illegal DEI activity by employers under Title VII. The panel will provide examples of prohibited activity and offer best practices for helping employers review and revise company policies and initiatives, including DEI programs, to be in the best position to mitigate the risk of possible discrimination claims. The panel will also examine EEOC enforcement activity as it pertains to DEI in the past year under the Trump administration and discuss lessons to be learned.

Description

Under the Trump administration, the EEOC has taken an anti-DEI stance, releasing guidance documents on what is now considered to be illegal DEI initiatives under Title VII. Most recently, the agency Chair issued a letter to the 500 largest companies in the U.S. warning them of potential Title VII liability that may result from DEI policies or practices and referring back to the guidance documents.

Given the change in agency focus and possibility of enforcement action, counsel should understand the EEOC guidance, enforcement action being taken, and how to help their employer clients review and amend any current policies, including DEI measures, to mitigate the risk of noncompliance.

Listen as our expert panel provides an in-depth look at the EEOC's guidance on employer DEI initiatives and Title VII compliance as well as EEOC enforcement activity in the past year under the Trump administration. The panel will also offer best practices for assisting clients with policy review and development to limit the risk of enforcement action.

Presented By

Anna M. McKenzie
Partner
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Ms. McKenzie is an experienced litigator and trial attorney who specializes in employment disputes involving senior executives and class claims; she also has extensive experience advising clients on a wide range of employment-related issues, including those related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ms. McKenzie has represented clients in a range of employment litigation matters, including cases involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage-and-hour violations. 


 

expand_circle_down Expand to View Full Bio expand_circle_up Collapse Bio
Savanna L. Shuntich
Special Counsel
Wiley Rein LLP

Ms. Shuntich has an expansive employment advice and counsel practice devoted to streamlining compliance with federal, state, and local workplace laws, creating clear employment policies and procedures, and effectively resolving government audits and investigations so that her clients can focus on business objectives. She is also experienced advising employers and coordinating an effective response when a workplace issue has become a crisis imperiling the success of the organization. Ms. Shuntich has represented individuals and companies in all phases of employment litigation, addressing claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wage theft, and breach of contract in the U.S. District Courts for the Districts of Columbia and Maryland and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. She has also represented clients in D.C. Superior Court and before various state courts and administrative tribunals. Ms. Shuntich leverages her experience as a litigator to mitigate risk for employers and resolve workplace issues in an efficient manner.  

expand_circle_down Expand to View Full Bio expand_circle_up Collapse Bio
Credit Information

  • This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.


  • Live Online


    On Demand

Date + Time

  • event

    Wednesday, July 8, 2026

  • schedule

    1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT

I. Introduction

II. EEOC guidance

A. Conduct that may constitute illegal DEI practices

B. No business necessity exception or contributing factor defense

C. Hostile work environment claims

D. Retaliation and protected activity

III. Recent EEOC anti-DEI enforcement action

IV. Employer impact

A. Policy evaluation and development

B. Training

V. Key takeaways


The panel will review these and other important considerations:

  • What employer DEI activities are considered by the EEOC to be discriminatory and in violation of Title VII?
  • Is it possible for employers to have any DEI initiatives in place?
  • What are best practices for reviewing and developing policies, including current DEI initiatives, to mitigate the risk of enforcement action?