Accenture to pay $25M to settle DOJ DEI discrimination allegations

Accenture has agreed to pay $25 million to resolve allegations from the U.S. Department of Justice regarding its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices. The government alleged that the consulting firm engaged in discriminatory employment practices by considering race and sex in hiring and promotion decisions to meet internal demographic targets.

The Justice Department utilized the False Claims Act, alleging that Accenture falsely certified compliance with federal regulations prohibiting such practices in its government contracts. The government claimed these practices, which allegedly included “stealth goals” for workforce makeup, also affected training and educational opportunities.

Accenture stated that the settlement does not constitute an admission of liability and maintained that the company complies with all applicable laws. A spokesperson noted that the firm cooperated with the review and chose to settle to avoid the costs and resources required for prolonged litigation.