With Mixed Messages on DEI Initiatives, Employers Advised to Proceed with Caution

In recent days there has been a flurry of activity regarding various Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives put forth by the federal government as well as within the private sector.

On day two of his administration, President Trump signed Executive Orders shuttering various government DEI offices and requiring government employees to remove pronouns from their email signatures. Simultaneously, companies including Target have announced changes to their existing DEI programs ranging from scaling back to eliminating previously announced policies. This has led to calls and emails from anxious employers wondering how they should or must proceed when it comes to DEI initiatives in the workplace.

Politics aside, there are some practical concerns from a compliance standpoint for business owners in New York State to consider.