The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said it has opened a formal investigation into Nike, Inc. ($NKE), alleging the company may have engaged in systemic race discrimination against white employees and job applicants through certain Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-related policies.
- The EEOC filed an action in federal court seeking to compel Nike to produce information related to allegations of DEI-related intentional race discrimination.
- The investigation focuses on whether Nike engaged in a pattern or practice of disparate treatment against white employees, applicants, and program participants.
- Areas under review include hiring, promotion, demotion, layoffs, internships, mentoring, leadership development, and other career advancement programs.
- The agency is seeking records dating back to 2018, including layoff selection criteria, use of race and ethnicity data, and whether such data factored into executive compensation.
- The EEOC identified at least 16 programs that allegedly offered race-restricted mentoring, leadership, or career development opportunities.
- The subpoena enforcement action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri after voluntary compliance efforts failed.
- Nike’s corporate lobbying disclosures show increased federal lobbying activity in the current year compared with every year since 2020, with reported issue areas including labor, employment, and corporate governance matters relevant to the investigation, according to corporate lobbying records.
Relevant Companies
- Nike, Inc. ($NKE) — Subject of the EEOC investigation and related federal court action concerning employment and DEI-related policies.
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. This article may be updated as more details become available.
