The U.S. Equal Employment Alternative Fee is looking for enforcement of an administrative subpoena associated to an investigation of range, fairness and inclusion coaching mandated by the Metropolis and County of San Francisco, the company mentioned in a press launch on Monday.
EEOC filed for enforcement on Sept. 3 within the U.S. District for the Northern District of California. The company alleged that the respondents “delayed and hampered” its investigation right into a former Division of Public Well being worker’s race and gender discrimination cost by failing to supply crucial paperwork and knowledge.
The worker claimed that she was directed by her supervisor to attend a sequence of 16 four-hour “Anti-Racism Fellowship Seminars” performed by an exterior contractor. The coaching teacher made repeated derogatory and vitriolic statements about White individuals and White ladies, EEOC claimed, and the charging social gathering additional alleged that the teacher “spoke down” to her and different feminine leaders, saying they need to communicate in a diminutive method.
EEOC mentioned it started its investigation in June 2024 by issuing a request for info, which it adopted up with a complement request in March 2025. Respondents produced a portion of requested paperwork by an April 2025 deadline, EEOC claimed, however continued to withhold sure different paperwork all through the next yr regardless of being knowledgeable by EEOC of deficiencies.
By mid-August 2026, the Metropolis and County allegedly had nonetheless not produced info and paperwork underneath three classes outlined by EEOC. This included all paperwork associated to the teacher’s curriculum and seminars; a searchable digital database of all workers who attended or enrolled within the seminars; and all paperwork associated to investigations towards the teacher.
“Regardless of a number of extensions, reminders, and assurances, Respondent has continued to supply paperwork in fragmented installments that depart substantial gaps in crucial classes of knowledge obligatory for a well timed and thorough investigation,” the company mentioned in its submitting.
San Francisco officers responded to the EEOC’s movement and plan to oppose it, Jen Kwart, communications director for Metropolis Lawyer David Chu, mentioned in an electronic mail. “We sit up for discussing this matter with the Court docket.”
EEOC has pursued enforcement of administrative subpoenas in a number of latest investigations of employers, notably the place DEI insurance policies are involved. Final month, the company ended one such authorized continuing towards Nike, telling a Missouri federal district court docket that the corporate had supplied requested info in an investigation of alleged anti-White bias.
And in one other continuing towards Northwestern Mutual, a choose ordered the corporate to adjust to EEOC’s info requests concerning Northwestern’s DEI insurance policies. EEOC mentioned it obtained a cost claiming that the corporate’s efficiency metrics led it to unlawfully fail to advertise a White male worker.
EEOC is usually more likely to succeed in persuading courts to implement subpoenas for info with respect to its DEI probes, Duane Morris attorneys beforehand mentioned in an April digital presentation.
