EEOC filed subpoena against Northwestern Mutual over DEI claims

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a subpoena enforcement action against Northwestern Mutual to force the company to hand over details about its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and workplace trainings. The agency is seeking personnel files for former employee Mark McNulty and several senior leaders, details about the company’s DEI programs, and the names and contact information for employees who participated in diversity trainings. The agency stated that it is investigating a charge filed by McNulty claiming the company discriminated against him to provide additional support and promotional opportunities to women and people of color.

Black IBM exec says fired to appease Trump; White employee suit settled

Zena Washington, former executive at IBM, sued saying she and other Black executives were terminated to appease President Trump’s distaste for DEI efforts. Washington—who is seeking over $1 million in damages—claims that five of seven Black executives in her division were terminated at the same time and that she was replaced by an Asian employee after she was let go in a reduction in force.

Meanwhile, in July IBM settled the claims from a white male former consultant that he was fired so the company could hire women and people of color to fulfill workforce diversity quotas. At the time Randall Dill was terminated, the IBM CEO instituted diversity hiring quotas for corporate leadership tied to financial incentives.

Seattle wins preliminary injunction against Trump DEI grant certification