Jamie Dimon Among Fortune 500 CEOs Defying Diversity Backlash
Certain executives continue to tout diversity as a priority
"Companies broadly are not backing away from their efforts, however, said Joanna Colosimo, Vice President of Workforce Equity and Compliance Strategy at DCI Consulting. Businesses Colosimo advises are examining their workforce data to zero in on how they’re hiring, promoting, and firing employees to understand what policies and practices could be creating barriers."
DCI Consulting Group Expands Services with Compensation Consulting
"This is a significant milestone in our desire to be a premier, full-service firm," said DCI's President and Founder, David Cohen. "Since our inception, we have been at the forefront of internal pay equity consulting. Now, we are poised to comprehensively assist employers with their full-cycle compensation practices every step of the way."
Joanna Colosimo and Christopher Wilkinson of Perkins Coie published in Law360 for their expert analysis, 5 Steps For Gov't Contractor Affirmative Action Verification
5 Steps For Gov't Contractor Affirmative Action Verification
"In 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, or OFCCP, kicked off its contractor verification system. This year marks the third year of the certification obligations, which grew out of a U.S. Government Accountability Office study that recommended the OFCCP improve its oversight of how contractors create and implement their affirmative action programs, or AAPs. The Trump administration formally proposed the verification system, and the Biden administration kept it on track through the Office of Management and Budget's approval process. As the July 1 certification deadline approaches, contractors should keep five takeaways in mind."
Joanna Colosimo and Bill Osterndorf published in Law360 for their article, Inside OMB's Update On Race And Ethnicity Data Collection
OMB Revises Statistical Policy Directive; First Set of Revisions since 1997
"The implementation of revised SPD 15 may be challenging for employers and regulatory agencies. Some of the reporting scenarios could result in hundreds of categories, creating significant burdens relating to the complexity of data collection, reporting and analysis. For federal contractors required to complete comparisons of availability to employment in an affirmative action program, analyzing small groups with potentially limited data may be a daunting task with limited value."
Keli Wilson was a guest on Fortney Scott's DC Insider - Employer Update™ Podcast
DEI Risk Assessment: What Employers Need to Do
"With the ongoing attacks on corporate DEI programs, Keli Wilson, Director and Principal Consultant, Workforce Equity, DCI Consulting, joined Nita Beecher to discuss why employers should perform a privileged DEI risk assessment now. Keli, an Industrial-Organizational psychologist, outlined the type of in-depth assessment she recommends to her clients while Nita reinforced why these assessments must be done with legal counsel."
Firms From KKR to Coors Flag DEI as a Risk to Their Bottom Lines
Overall companies persisting with DEI programs
"Companies might feel like they’re “caught between and rock and a hard place,” when it comes to satisfying all stakeholders with their DEI approach, said Joanna Colosimo, Vice President of Workforce Equity and Compliance Strategy at DCI Consulting."
DCI Consulting Group Acquires Human Resource Specialties, Inc
The acquisition strengthens DCI's standing as a frontrunner in the affirmative action sector.
"I am thrilled to announce the successful acquisition of Human Resource Specialties, which aligns with DCI's strategic vision and solidifies our position as the premier affirmative action planning consulting firm," said David Cohen, President of DCI Consulting. "I look forward to collaborating with HR Specialties' clients to maintain the outstanding services provided by Sandy and the team."
Joanna Colosimo quoted in SHRM's article on the reporting of Nonbinary employees on federal forms like the EEO-1 form
Nonbinary Employees: Invisible on Many EEO-1 Forms
"It remains difficult for employers to report job classification, gender and race/ethnicity information for their nonbinary workers, said Joanna Colosimo, SHRM-SCP, Vice President of Workforce Equity and Compliance Strategy and Principal Consultant with DCI Consulting Group in Washington, D.C. "
DCI Consulting Group and Fortney & Scott, LLC Launch DEI Risk Assessment
DEI program evaluation offers privileged critical information to mitigate risk
"Following the recent rulings by the Supreme Court in UNC and Harvard, it is imperative for employers to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of their DEI initiatives in order to identify potential legal risks," said DCI President David Cohen. "We wholeheartedly recommend our clients to actively pursue robust DEI practices while ensuring they adhere to legal compliance and demonstrate effectiveness."
Diversity Officers Chart New Course Amid Political, Legal Storms
DEI officers see opportunity to broaden diversity goals
"Employers aren’t going to abandon diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) because of the political backlash and legal threats following the Supreme Court decision, said Joanna Colosimo, vice president of workforce equity and compliance strategy at DCI Consulting, during a webinar on September 13. Companies will need to take a step back and do a self-assessment to make sure that their initiatives comply with current law, however, Colosimo said."
Joanna Colosimo quoted in SHRM's article on OFCCP's release of demographic data from more than 19,000 federal contractors
OFCCP’s Release of EEO-1 Data Concerns Federal Contractors
"In many cases, employers were choosing the data points from the EEO-1 consolidated reports to release in their own disclosures. However, once employers went on record reporting this information in an ESG report, it became a more difficult argument to articulate why they would object to an FOIA release of the same type of information," Colosimo said. "Some employers are reviewing their strategies for public disclosures to balance transparency and risk given this circumstance."
Joanna Colosimo published in World at Work's #evolve Magazine article focused on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Racial Equity Audits: Now is the Time to Learn More
"What Is a Racial Equity Audit?
Racial equity audits collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data to see if an organization’s policies, practices or procedures unintentionally contribute to diversity, equity, inclusion or accessibility concerns or biases. To ensure these audits are objective and holistic, they typically are managed by independent third parties."
Eric Dunleavy quoted in HR Dive's recent article on Artificial Intelligence
The tools can evaluate large databases to determine a work outcome, such as performance, turnover, absenteeism, injury reduction or sales, explained Eric Dunleavy, an industrial/organizational psychologist and director of the Employment & Litigation Services Division at DCI Consulting.
Joanna Colosimo quoted in SHRM's recent article centered on companies' ESG principles
More Companies Relying on ESG Strategies
"Employers need to be mindful of both internal and external pressures to ensure they are putting forth actions to move diverse representation forward, and they are not just claiming they are a diversity-friendly employer without associated actions to support their statements," Colosimo said.
Joanna Colosimo quoted in SHRM's recent article on OFCCP's Proposed Changes to its Scheduling Letter
OFCCP Seeks to Gather Much More Information During Audits
"If the OFCCP is successful in adding even a fraction of these proposed changes, it will mean more work on the contractor during the course of a desk audit," said Joanna Colosimo, SHRM-SCP, Vice President of Workforce Equity and Compliance Strategy and Principal Consultant with DCI Consulting Group in Washington, D.C.
DCI Consulting Acquires Gerstco
Acquisition solidifies DCI's position as a leader in the affirmative action industry
"The acquisition of Gerstco adds an experienced and effective team of consultants and support staff to the DCI family," said DCI President David Cohen. "We look forward to serving a new set of clients while expanding our presence in California and the Pacific region at large."
Chad Ian Peddie, Jon Geier, and Keli Wilson published in Law360 for their article, 4 Key ESG Principles for Independent Board Members
4 Key ESG Principles For Independent Board Members
"Although there is currently a lack of a one-size-fits-all approach for disclosing workforce diversity demographics and objectives, there is evolving rulemaking to remedy it."
DCI Consulting Completes Acquisition of Glenn Barlett Consulting Services
Acquisition strengthens DCI's service offerings for federal contractors.
"Our clients are our top priority at DCI. This acquisition will help us grow as a firm while continuing to offer the highest level of service," said DCI President David Cohen. "Glenn Barlett Consulting brings decades of experience in OFCCP compliance. We are excited to welcome them to our team and look forward to providing their clients with additional resources and top-tier service."
DCI Consulting Group Releases Pay Equity Dashboard Application
"In response to an increasing demand for dynamic analyses of compensation data, DCI Consulting Group is pleased to announce the launch of the DCI Dashboard for Pay Equity. This Dashboard will allow employers to use the results of their organization's compensation analyses to create interactive visuals and reports that are backed by DCI's expert consultants and software development team. The release of DCI's Dashboard for Pay Equity follows the release of the company's Dashboard for AAP Data in 2021 and its subsequent success."
Evan Szarenski published in Law360 for his analysis on a recent DOL Ruling that impacts Contractor Audits
DOL Ruling Could Throttle Contractor Audit Challenges
"While the practical effect may be limited — very few contractors challenge their selection on Fourth Amendment grounds — this ruling, in conjunction with prior OFCCP Fourth Amendment cases, removes the possibility of a contractor challenging the OFCCP's selection process for almost all compliance evaluations."
Joanna Colosimo Featured in SHRM's recent article on OFCCP Clarification of the Compensation Directive
OFCCP Clarifies Federal Contractors’ Compensation Compliance
"With the newly revised directive, the OFCCP clarified "a poorly worded and implemented directive," said Joanna Colosimo, SHRM-SCP, vice president of workforce equity and compliance strategy as well as principal consultant with DCI Consulting Group in Washington, D.C. "OFCCP hopefully learned to engage stakeholders before issuing guidelines and directives to ensure future clarity of communication."
Dave Schmidt, Don Lustenberger, and Barbara Nett published in Law360 for their article on the New York City Automated Employment Decisions Tools
NYC Employers Face Ambiguities In AI Bias Law
"Employers have less than five months to prepare for the Jan. 1, 2023, enactment of New York City's Local Law 144 of 2021, which will regulate the use of automated employment decision tools, or AEDTs, in employee selection."
Joanna Colosimo Featured in SHRM's recent article on OFCCP Providing Additional Guidance
OFCCP Provides Guidance for Contractors That Missed AAP Certification Deadline
"Federal contractors had until June 30 to register and certify compliance on the OFCCP Contractor Portal. Organizations should have identified their main point of contact for the portal, noted Joanna Colosimo, SHRM-SCP, Vice President of Workforce Equity and Compliance Strategy and Principal Consultant for DCI Consulting in Washington, D.C. In addition, organizations should determine who is certifying for each establishment."
Macy Cheeks honored by The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce on the 2022 40 Under 40 Honoree List
"The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present its sixth class of 40 Under 40 Honorees. This event is a celebration of incredible individuals, their successes in various industries, and their impact on the thriving Alexandria community."
DCI Consulting Expands Audit Strategy and Regulatory Affairs Division with Evan Szarenski
DCI Expands with Former OFCCP Hire Evan Szarenski
David Cohen, President of DCI, stated that "Evan Szarenski brings incredible insight to DCI with his experience at OFCCP ensuring contractor compliance with regulations, policies, and procedures. Our clients will benefit from his breadth of knowledge."
DCI Consulting Expands Labor Economics Division with Andrew J. Cook, Ph.D.
DCI Expands Labor Economics Division with Andrew J. Cook, Ph.D.
David Cohen, President of DCI, stated that “Dr. Cook brings extensive experience assisting Fortune 500 companies across a variety of workforce analytics and employment analyses. His hire enhances DCI’s ability to provide the highest level of consulting and expertise to our clients”.
DCI Consulting's Pay Equity services referenced in Chapter 11: Attract & Retain a Diverse Workforce of Inclusalytics
Inclusalytics: How Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leaders Use Data to Drive Their Work
"We mentioned pay equity analysis in Chapter 5. This can be as simple as comparing the average pay of individuals from different groups or as complex as conducting a regression analysis, which would allow you to control for additional variables such as experience or job level, Beware, however, that even simple pay equity analyses come with a number of factor to consider, including legal requirements. Fortunately, there are a number of tools and vendors, such as DCI Consulting, available to assist you with this huge Inclusalytics undertaking."
Macy Cheeks' research was published in APA’s journal, Psychology of Leaders and Leadership
Examining diversity climate through an intersectional lens
Macy's research explores the relationship between an organization’s diversity climate and employee perceptions of the work environment in relation to their intersecting identities. "To explore these relationships, 344 employees from various organizations were surveyed. Significant correlations were found between diversity climate and job satisfaction, satisfaction toward coworkers, affective organizational commitment, and perceived organizational support."
Joanna Colosimo Featured in SHRM's recent article on OFCCP's Contractor Portal
Timetable for OFCCP Contractor Portal Is Set, but Questions Remain
"It is significant that OFCCP is giving contractors time to get their plans and affirmative action programs in place," said Joanna Colosimo, SHRM-SCP, Vice President of Workforce Equity & Compliance Strategy, Principal Consultant with DCI Consulting in Washington, D.C. "It also appears to be a measured plan. There is time for organizations to register in the system, and there is a three-month period in which they can certify."
Joanna Colosimo Featured in Alison Conigliaro-Hubbard's recently published book
Lessons in Life and Leadership: Women Leaders Offer a Lifetime of Wisdom to Work and Live By
"1. Stay curious and ask questions!
2. Do no be afraid to make a decision that is unpopular but is in fact the right thing to do. Was the decision-making process equitable, fair, and driven by relevant metrics?
3. You are in your position for a reason, If you suffer from imposter syndrome, you certainly are not alone, Find a group of colleagues or peers you feel safe discussing your leadership vulnerabilities with and in turn, empower them."
Eric Dunleavy Recognized with the Personnel Testing Council of Metropolitan Washington DC (PTCMW) Service Award
Personnel Testing Council of Metropolitan Washington DC (PTCMW) Service Award
"The PTCMW Service Award is a unique award which recognizes individuals for their service to PTCMW and support in achieving the goals and mission of PTCMW. Established in 1977, PTCMW and its members seek to advance the science and practice of I-O psychology and related fields through high-value professional growth and networking opportunities."
Diversity at a Glance: Labor Force Benchmark Series Announced
This article is the first in a new series, "Diversity at a Glance," from DCI Consulting (DCI) that will explore labor force benchmarks within and across sectors. With the increased awareness around social justice movements, more employers are examining the diversity profile of their workforces.
Joanna Colosimo Featured in SHRM's article on Pay Equity
As Workplaces Reopen, Keep an Eye on Pay Equity
"The pandemic is not an excuse to not invest the time, money, resources and effort into a robust pay equity review," said Joanna Colosimo, SHRM-SCP, Director of Compliance and Workforce Analytics and Principal Consultant with DCI Consulting in Washington, D.C. She recommended evaluating sex differences as well as race and ethnicity disparities in pay annually.
David Garber joins DCI Consulting Group
DCI Consulting Group hires labor economist David Garber
"Dr. Garber brings DCI additional expertise in pay equity audits and proactive analyses. His hire is in line with DCI's goal to provide the highest level of consulting and expertise to our clients," said David Cohen, president of DCI.
David Cohen Featured in SHRM's recent article on the future of Pay Equity for OFCCP
Expect OFCCP to Focus More on Pay Equity and Data Collection
"Employers should be conducting pay equity studies that analyze similarly situated employee groupings and statistical tests that control for the major factors that influence compensation, Cohen said. If statistical differences can't be explained, employers need to remediate and make salary adjustments, he noted."
Eric Dunleavy Featured in SHRM's recent article on the use of AI in the Workplace
Use of AI in the Workplace Raises Legal Concerns
"This is not a future-forward issue," Dunleavy said. "AI tools which learn how to perform tasks usually performed by humans are being used today in human resources."
DCI Consulting Completes Acquisition of HR Analytical Services
Deal Combines Top Consulting Firms in OFCCP Compliance
DCI Consulting Group (DCI), a Washington, D.C.-based human resources data analytics firm, announced that it has completed its acquisition of Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based HR Analytical Services (HR Analytical).
Circa Announces Partnership with AAP Provider DCI Consulting Group
Deal Combines Top Consulting Firms in OFCCP Compliance
Circa announced a formal partnership with Washington DC-based DCI Consulting Group, a human resources risk management consulting firm specializing in OFCCP compliance, pay equity, and other workforce analytics. Circa is partnering with DCI to provide its customers and prospects access to high-quality affirmative action planning and other workforce analytic solutions from an industry leading organization.
Six Ways OFCCP Can Reboot After Pay Discrimination Losses
The Labor Department’s recent loss in the Oracle pay discrimination case, while disappointing for the agency, provides the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs an opportunity to take stock of the current state of its pay equity enforcement program.
Juanita Beecher, Joanna Colosimo and Jon Geier published in Law360 for their article on Workforce Reduction Analyses
Employer Considerations For A Workforce Reduction Analysis
Pandemic-era employers are facing unprecedented economic challenges. As they deal with their economic survival, their workforce challenges are equally novel and add to their risks.
DCI Consulting Launches Online AAP Software and OFCCP Compliance Resource
ProntoAAP and OFCCP Certification provide valuable tools for federal contractors
In response to increasing audits from the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and their announced plan to initiate a contractor verification program, DCI has launched two new tools for federal contractors: ProntoAAP and OFCCPCertification.com.
David Cohen Featured in SHRM's recent article on Reduction in Force efforts and analysis
"David Cohen, president of DCI Consulting in Washington, D.C., said performance as a criterion is typically business-related, while laying off workers who earn the most may be suspect, as those employees may be the oldest."
DCI Consulting Group Hires Jone Papinchock and Dave Schmidt
DCI Consulting Group hires Joanne (Jone) Papinchock, Ph.D. and David (Dave) Schmidt, Ph,D.
DCI Consulting Group, Inc. (DCI) is pleased to announce that Joanne (Jone) Papinchock, Ph.D. and David (Dave) Schmidt, Ph.D. have joined our team as Principal Consultants in the Personnel Selection and Litigation Support Division.
DCI Consulting Group Hires Jon Geier as a Principal Consultant
DCI Consulting Group hires Jon Geier
DCI Consulting Group, Inc. ("DCI") is pleased to announce that Jon Geier, a recently retired employment law partner at Paul Hastings LLP is joining DCI as a Principal Consultant. Jon brings over 30 years of experience advising employers on workforce issues.
DCI Consulting Completes Acquisition of Savina Consulting
Deal Combines Top Consulting Firms in EEO Litigation Support
DCI Consulting Group (DCI), a Washington, D.C.-based human resources risk management firm, announced that it has completed its acquisition of Denver, Colorado-based employment litigation and HR boutique consultancy Savina Consulting.
David Cohen Featured in SHRM's article on valid Pay Equity factors
OFCCP Guidance Clarifies Valid Pay Equity Factors
"This analysis is a statistical model that helps the OFCCP, or employers if they are conducting self-audits, look at differences in salaries between men and women and determine whether the disparities are due to gender, race or nondiscriminatory factors, David Cohen noted."
Michael Aamodt has Featured Story in SIOP’s TIP Publication
Really, I Come Here for The Food: Sex as a BFOQ for Restaurant Servers
"The BFOQ exception in Title VII states that discrimination is illegal except, “in those certain instances where religion, sex, or national origin is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of that particular business or enterprise.” The courts have opined that an employer using the BFOQ defense must demonstrate that it “had reasonable cause to believe that all (class members) would be unable to perform the job safely and efficiently or that it was impossible or highly impractical to consider the qualifications of each” (Cavico & Mujtaba, 2016)."
David Cohen presented the findings of a Pay Equity study at a City of Seattle Council Briefing
DCI was commissioned by the City of Seattle to provide a Workforce Pay Equity and Utilization study
"We chose DCI because they are one, if not the national leaders in doing this type of work as David will tell you more. We asked DCI to do 4 things in this study and I will spell those out; determine if their are differences in salary by gender and race ethnicity after controlling for experience, occupation and time on the job, determine if there are differences in higher paid versus lower paid occupations by gender and race ethnicity, determine if there are differences in starting salaries by gender and race ethnicity and determine whether employment hiring and promotion rates for women and minorities in the city are at, below or exceed the available labor pool in Seattle."
Michael Aamodt’s Article On Testing Is Published In Assessment Council News
A Test! A Test! My Kingdom for a Valid Test!
"what information must a vendor provide for a client to feel comfortable in purchasing a test? After all, because no test is valid across all jobs and all situations, what type of validity evidence or other psychometric information would one expect from a vendor? Here are the results of my musing. Prior to using a test to select employees, there are two steps that must be taken: (1) determine if the construct measured by the test is appropriate for the job in question, and (2) determine if the test is a reasonable measure of that construct. It is the organization’s responsibility to gather the information in Step 1 and the vendor’s responsibility to provide the information needed for Step 2."