Federal agency sues Coca-Cola bottler over work event that excluded men
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A Coca-Cola distributor and bottler is being sued for alleged sexual discrimination over a corporate networking event that excluded men, announced the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which filed the lawsuit, Wednesday.
Why it matters: This is the first lawsuit related to workplace diversity that the federal agency in charge of enforcing anti-discrimination laws at work has filed during President Trump's second term.
- Trump has made dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion policies a priority for his administration.
- He signed an executive order soon after taking office again last year that targeted DEI and revoked a decades-old EO that was designed to give equal opportunity to people of color and women in the workplace.
Driving the news: Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, a producer, seller and distributor of Coca-Cola brand products throughout the Northeastern U.S., "violated federal law" when it held a two-day employer-sponsored trip and networking event in Connecticut that invited women only in September 2024, EEOC alleges.
- "Coca-Cola Northeast privately invited female employees and then excused the female employees who attended the event from their normal work duties," EEOC alleged in a Wednesday statement.
- The drinks giant "paid them their normal salary or wages without requiring them to use vacation or other paid time off" during the retreat, according to the civil rights agency, which alleges the company violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
- "Coca-Cola Northeast did not invite any male employees to the event."
What they're saying: EEOC acting general counsel Catherine Eschbach said in a statement that excluding men from an employer-sponsored event is a violation of federal law that the agency "will act to remedy through litigation when necessary."
- She added: "The EEOC remains committed to ensuring that all employees — men and women alike — enjoy equal access to all aspects of their employment, including participation in employer-sponsored events, regardless of their sex, race or other protected category."
The other side: Peter Bennett, an attorney representing Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, told Axios the company looked forward to having its day in court.
- "This event fully complied with existing EEOC regulation and its public commentary approving of such events," Bennett said, alleging the federal agency did not conduct a full investigation.
- "We remain confident in our values and in our continued focus on fairness, respect, and opportunity for everyone. We remain committed to upholding our responsibilities to our employees, customers, and the communities in which we live and work."
State of play: The lawsuit that the EEOC's Boston-area office initiated against Coca-Cola Northeast, which is headquartered in Bedford, New Hampshire, comes as the agency investigates Nike for allegedly discriminating against white workers.
- EEOC is also investigating Northwestern Mutual Insurance after a male employee alleged that "he was denied advancement on the basis of his sex, race, color and national origin and in retaliation for complaining about" the insurer's diversity policy, per a statement from the agency.
- EEOC chair Andrea Lucas last year requested 20 law firms provide more details on their DEI policies.
Go deeper: Nike facing federal probe of alleged discrimination against white employees
Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional details throughout and to include a statement from Bennett.
