DEI in the spotlight

Abstract This article discusses the challenges global companies operating in the US, UK, and Europe face in managing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes. Businesses face a Catch-22: in the US, DEI programmes face significant legal and reputational threats, whereas in the EU and UK businesses are required to promote – and report on – DEI measures. It is even trickier for companies with government contracts on both sides of the pond, whose failure to comply with one set of rules over another may result in exclusion from public procurement processes. This article provides an overview of the issues in the US and EU/UK, respectively, and practical advice on how global companies can thread the needle.