Company’s DEI interview quota policy harmed White men, lawsuit alleges

Core Viewpoint - Danaher Corp. is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging that its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policy discriminates against qualified White men by implementing hiring quotas favoring women and people of color [1][6]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit, Critelli v. Danaher Corp., involves two White male engineers over 40 who worked for Pall Corp., a subsidiary of Danaher, in management positions [2]. - The plaintiffs claim that Danaher's DEI policy mandates that 50% of candidates interviewed for open positions must be women or people of color, referred to as "underrepresented" [3]. - It is alleged that for open management positions, women and people of color make up less than 50% of the qualified applicants [3]. Group 2: Hiring Practices - To achieve DEI goals, Danaher is accused of altering job descriptions and requirements, allowing female or POC applicants to meet different standards compared to White or male applicants [4]. - The lawsuit claims that Danaher artificially inflates interview pools with female candidates and POC, limiting hiring managers' ability to make merit-based selections [5]. Group 3: Claims of Discrimination - The plaintiffs assert that between 2021 and 2025, they applied for various promotions but were denied interviews for nearly all positions, despite being qualified, due to DEI quotas and their age [6]. - The lawsuit alleges violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act [6]. Group 4: Industry Context - Danaher has refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation [7]. - The lawsuit comes amid increasing scrutiny and backlash against DEI programs, particularly following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that deemed race-conscious college admissions unconstitutional [7]. - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has emphasized that DEI programs must still comply with existing legal prohibitions against discrimination based on race, sex, and other protected characteristics [8].