That's especially true since the May 2020 murder of George Floyd, which sparked new conversations about racial inequity.
In recent years, banks have become more intentional about creating workforce diversity and tracking their efforts in a more transparent way. Some initiatives may 'not pass Title VII scrutiny, and they're going to be illegal.' 'I think the consequences of the opinion will be a lot more attention to diversity initiatives,' Lander said. While the ruling does not directly affect private employers - the use of affirmative action in employment is rarely legal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Law of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin - the implications may still be far-reaching, said Esther Lander, an attorney at the Akin law firm. Lenders may be reviewing their existing programs and thinking about how to restructure them in ways that don't violate the court's ruling but still achieve the same goals, according to the legal experts.
