Live Webinar

Reviewing Your DEI Programs for Legal Risk: What the EEOC Is Targeting

  • Wednesday, February 3, 2027
  • 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST
  • 60 Minutes
4.5 / 5 994 ratings of this speaker
CE credits
  • 1.00 ATAHR (Aurora HR)
  • 1.00 HRCI (Human Resource Certification Institute)
  • 1.00 SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management)

What You'll Learn

The 2025 Ames decision and the EEOC’s 2026 rescission of its longstanding voluntary affirmative action guidelines have prompted employers to review their DEI programs. With the agency’s National Enforcement Plan for fiscal years 2025–2029 emphasizing intentional discrimination, employers need to evaluate race- and sex-conscious workplace initiatives for potential disparate-treatment exposure.
  1. The New Enforcement Direction and the Ames Effect: Race- and sex-conscious workplace programs, disparate-treatment exposure, the rescission of voluntary affirmative action guidance, and the implications of Ames for “reverse discrimination” claims.
  2. Talent Pipeline and Algorithmic Risk: Internships, leadership development tracks, job postings, interview scoring, AI hiring tools, third-party vendor liability, and state transparency mandates.
  3. Internal Programs and Workplace Culture: Employee resource groups, affinity groups, mentorship programs, access for all employees, separating metrics from employment decisions, and reviewing communications.
  4. Broader Organizational Implications: External vendor contracts, litigation exposure, mandatory reporting metrics, corporate strategy, ESG disclosures, and restructuring corporate initiatives.
  5. 30/60/90-Day Risk Mitigation: Practical self-audit guidance for evaluating programs and prioritizing updates.
View Full Description

This webinar provides a practical review of these developments and their implications for HR practices, corporate initiatives, and workplace culture. Participants will examine talent pipeline programs, job postings, interview scoring, AI screening tools, third-party vendor contracts, and internal development opportunities. The session will also address litigation exposure, reporting metrics, corporate strategy, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures, concluding with a 30/60/90-day approach to self-auditing and risk mitigation.

Your Benefits For Attending:
  • Understand the implications of Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services for “reverse discrimination” claims under Title VII.
  • Examine the EEOC’s enforcement direction and the implications of rescinding its longstanding voluntary affirmative action guidelines.
  • Identify potential legal exposure in internships, leadership development, job postings, interview scoring, and AI-assisted hiring.
  • Explore how to restructure employee resource groups, affinity groups, and mentorship programs to make opportunities available to all employees.
  • Learn how to separate demographic metrics from employment decisions and review related communications.
  • Develop a 30/60/90-day self-audit approach to prioritizing DEI program updates and reducing risk.

Gain a clearer understanding of where to focus your organization’s review and how to approach needed changes. Leave better prepared to evaluate existing programs and organize your next steps.

Who Will Benefit:
  • HR professionals in all roles and HR-related associations.
  • Supervisors, managers, and team leaders.
  • Recruiters.
  • Operations professionals.
  • Legal, compliance, and risk management professionals.
  • CEOs, COOs, and CFOs.

Meet Your Speaker

Wendy Sellers

Wendy Sellers, MHR, MHA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR has 25 years of experience in HR, change management, operations, strategy, corporate culture, and leadership development in all size businesses (local startup to global enterprise) in a wide variety of industries including healthcare, professional services,...

View Full Bio of Wendy Sellers

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CE Credits

These are the continuing education credits available to you for this webinar.

  • 1.00 ATAHR Aurora HR Aurora Training Advantage is offering continuing education points designed to recognize dedication to training and excellence in human resources.
  • 1.00 HRCI Human Resource Certification Institute Browse HRCI-approved webinars and earn recertification credits online. Live and on-demand HR training for PHR, SPHR, and GPHR recertification. Expert-led sessions from Aurora Training Advantage.
  • 1.00 SHRM Society for Human Resource Management Aurora Training Advantage is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit www.shrmcertification.org.