Boston Business Journal

Commentary: As Supreme Court ruling looms, employers need to double down on diversity, equity and inclusion

By Malia Lazu | Jun 29, 2023

In the months leading up to the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action admissions policies in colleges and universities, speculation has mounted on just how widely the impact would be felt if the High Court struck down even parts of those programs. Would a ruling against equal opportunity in college campus admissions cause employers to rethink their DEI efforts?While the ruling remains unknown as of this writing, one thing is very clear: Regardless of the Supreme Court decision, employers need to double down on their DEI efforts. First of all, employers have a legal right to continue providing equal opportunities for underrepresented groups in the workforce. The case against college admissions — brought by Students for Fair Admissions against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina — alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Workplace DEI programs come under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.