On March 11, the Tenth Circuit issued an appellate ruling upholding the dismissal of a Title VII lawsuit that claimed a DEI training created a hostile work environment. This ruling is just the tip of the iceberg, and courts around the country are expected to weigh in on similar issues in the near future.
Kevin Owen, partner at Gilbert Employment Law, spoke to The National Law Journal about the recent decision, noting that the training material and glossary terms cited in the complaint are not the norm in all DEI workshops. Specifically, Mr. Owen told The National Law Journal, that he would “be cautious in assuming that any DEI training automatically leads to a finding of racial animus.”
The case highlights the importance of employers working with counsel to vet materials for DEI programs and initiatives. To read the story in The National Law Journal, click here.