Ensure diversity efforts don't inadvertently trigger discrimination claims.

There's a right way and a wrong way to diversify your workforce. The right way is difficult and takes time. The wrong way is to simply push current employees out of the way to make room for new employees.

Recent case: Michael, who is white, was an HR vice president, earning $200,000 per year plus bonuses topping $80,000. In 2020, the company decided it wanted to diversify its executive ranks.

According to Michael, this prompted a meeting in which the company's CEO allegedly said, "Mike, I want you to retire. I have a diversity problem. I want to improve the diversity profile of the company. And I want to promote [a woman of color] into your job." The CEO named someone previously identified as Michael's likely successor.

Soon after, Michael retired--and then filed a lawsuit alleging sex and race...