The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) wants to hear from companies about their diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) efforts. In response to President Biden’s Executive Orders (E.O.) 13985 and 14091, which call for expanding federal government equity initiatives, the Commerce Department developed a set of draft Business Diversity Principles (BDPs) to describe the private sector’s best DEIA practices. DOC’s draft principles are organized into six categories: (1) executive leadership, (2) organizational strategy, (3) workforce development, (4) human resources, (5) community investment, and (6) business opportunities. DOC’s Request for Information (RFI) states that the department will use the input it receives to refine the Business Diversity Principles and the BDP initiative’s next phases. The deadline for submitting comments is January 5, 2024.
Members of the Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC), our affiliated nonprofit membership association, can read more here.