The US government is investigating Nike over allegations that the footwear company discriminated against white workers. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which enforces workplace discrimination laws, revealed on Wednesday that it had requested corporate records dating back to 2018, including the usage of race and ethnicity data and if such information influenced executive pay.
According to court records, the firm participated “in a pattern or practice of disparate treatment against white employees, applicants, and training program participants. Nike stated that company was “committed to fair and lawful employment practices,” calling the investigation a “surprising and unusual escalation.””We think our procedures and activities are in line with those duties and treat these issues seriously. We will continue our efforts to cooperate with the EEOC and will reply to the petition.”
The decision to sue Nike, a well-known consumer brand, is one of the first major measures filed by the EEOC under US President Donald Trump, who has criticised diversity initiatives as “reverse discrimination. The EEOC stated that its inquiry was prompted by a 2024 complaint from America First Legal, a partisan organization created by Trump adviser Stephen Miller that defines “dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion” or DEI as a primary aim.
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