The US federal agency for protecting workers’ civil rights launched a probe into sportswear company Nike over alleged discrimination against white employees as part of its diversity policy.
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) unveiled the probe in a motion filed in federal court in the state of Missouri, demanding Nike fully comply with a subpoena for information. In addition, the commission requested the company to provide information related to the allegations, including its diversity, equity and inclusion goals for 2025.
The commission is investigating whether the company engages in a pattern or practice of unequal treatment of white employees, applicants and programme participants in making decisions about hiring, promotion, demotion or termination, as well as in internship and career development programmes.
Court documents reveal the EEOC sought the company’s criteria for selecting employees for termination, how it tracks and uses data on the race and ethnicity of employees, and information about programmes that allegedly provided race-restricted opportunities for mentoring, leadership or career advancement.
The disclosure came two months after EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas posted a call on social media urging white men to stand up if they had experienced racial or sexual discrimination at work. Despite this, the investigation into Nike is not related to any employee complaints against the company.
The EEOC’s allegations appear to be based on Nike’s public claims about its commitment to diversity, including statements by executives and statements of intent. For instance, the charge cited Nike’s publicly stated 2021 goal of achieving 35% representation of racial and ethnic minorities in its corporate workforce by 2025.
In its statement, Nike said it follows “all applicable laws, including those that prohibit discrimination. We believe our programmes and practices are consistent with those obligations and take these matters seriously.”
