This week, we dive into the real-world impacts of DEI rollbacks, workplace discrimination, and employee disengagement. We examine how Target faced boycotts and significant business impacts after eliminating DEI initiatives recently met with Rev. Al Sharpton to address the impacts of boycotts. We'll also explore troubling new research showing increased workplace discrimination against LGBTQ+ employees amid a record year of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Finally, we discuss the emerging concept of "quiet cracking" and what it reveals about the current state of workplace wellbeing and employee engagement.

Connect:

with Steven Huang on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thestevenhuang/

or sign up for his newsletter: https://setthesetting.substack.com/

with Stacey Nordwall on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceynordwall/

Articles:

• Rev Al Sharpton meets with Target CEO over halting of DEI initiative
• LGBTQ+ workers report more discrimination, less happiness at work
• What is ‘quiet cracking’? Worker disengagement has a new name

This week, we welcome Nathan Chung, Jessica Donahue, and Greer Procich for a critical conversation about workplace accessibility and inclusion. With collective experience in HR, cybersecurity, and disability advocacy, our panel examines how current workplace policies often overlook the experiences of disabled and neurodivergent employees.

The conversation explores three major topics affecting the workplace:

1. The surge in return-to-office mandates and their disproportionate impact on people with disabilities which is reversing progress that had been made in employment for people with disabilities.
2. The potentially devastating implications of Texas v. Becerra, a lawsuit challenging Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the ripple effects of which could undermine fundamental disability rights in workplaces.
3. Recent changes at the EEOC, including the halting of sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination claims and the abandonment of existing lawsuits - as the EEOC continues to operate without a quorum.

Our guests offer advice and insight for HR professionals navigating these challenges and advocating for truly inclusive workplaces.

Learn more about Rethink Ability: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/greerprocich_rethinking-disability-from-red-tape-to-real-activity-7310716858263908354-uJxk

Connect:

Nathan Chung:

• on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nc808/
• on the Disability Disrupted podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DisabilityDisrupted

Jessica Donahue:

• on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-e-donahue/
• on her website: https://www.adjunctleadership.com/

Greer Procich:

• on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerprocich/

Stacey Nordwall:

• on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceynordwall/

Articles:

• 5 years into the remote work boom, the return-to-office push is stronger than ever—here's why
• ‘Dangerous’ lawsuit could imperil disability rights, advocates say
• Andrea Lucas renominated to EEOC, pledges ‘evenhanded’ civil rights enforcement
• Five years of remote work changed workplace accessibility. Employees with disabilities will feel its loss.

In this episode, we analyze new Glassdoor research suggesting employees are increasingly deprioritizing workplace relationships, questioning whether this shift stems from broader social disconnection or reflects changing priorities in a hybrid world. We also discuss a revealing Perceptyx survey showing that while 95% of HR teams are collecting employee feedback, only 27% feel confident they can act on it—highlighting the growing burnout crisis among HR professionals who are stretched too thin. Finally, we explore the controversy surrounding Meta's "do not rehire" list, examining the tension between standard HR offboarding practices and transparency in employment relationships.

Connect:

Kim Minnick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-minnick/

Stacey Nordwall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceynordwall/

Articles:

Employees care less and less about workplace relationships, new research finds

Stressed HR teams say they can’t take action on employee feedback

Meta keeps secret ‘do not rehire’ list of ex-employees — despite exceptional performance reviews: report