Nike Investigated by Trump Appointee Over Allegations of Workplace Bias

US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Files Court Motion Against Nike Over Allegations of Discrimination

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a court motion to compel Nike to produce information related to allegations of “intentional race discrimination” against white employees. The EEOC claims that Nike failed to respond to a subpoena for various information, including the criteria used in selecting employees for redundancies and setting executives’ pay.

The agency is seeking information on hiring, promotion, demotion, or separation decisions, as well as internship programs, mentoring, leadership development, and other career development programs. The EEOC alleges that Nike may have engaged in a pattern of discrimination against white employees.

Nike has not responded to a request for comment on the matter. Andrea Lucas, chair of the EEOC, stated that US anti-discrimination law is “colour-blind” and protects employees of all races. She also mentioned President Trump’s commitment to enforcing civil rights laws.

The EEOC’s action comes as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to enforce Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, colour, religion, or sex. The agency has taken steps to renew its focus on even-handed enforcement of this law.

Nike has publicly supported social justice causes in the past, including Black Lives Matter. Between 2020 and 2021, Nike’s share of non-white employees increased by more than four percentage points, according to a Bloomberg analysis of company data reported to the EEOC.

Source: Al Jazeera