Four years after diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) was touted as a means of bringing about racial equality following the death of George Floyd, many large companies are now scaling back or abandoning DEI efforts. 

About 50% of C-suite executives surveyed in a January 2024 Littler report cited concerns about litigation as the highest contributing factor to the organization’s decrease in DEI efforts. Approximately 38% of executives surveyed said backlash toward corporate diversity programs has increased since the Supreme Court’s 2023 affirmative action ruling. 

So why is DEI under attack in the workplace? Host Stephen Henderson examines the controversy surrounding DEI in corporate America. He talks with Mark S. Lee, president & CEO of The LEE Group, about the current backlash against DEI, what’s driving it, and what recourse is available for African Americans and other minority groups in the workplace. Lee also shares why he believes DEI initiatives benefit a corporation’s bottom line.