Equity-based workplace strategies are on the chopping block. Companies that don’t adhere to President Trump’s “strict neutrality” mandate may find themselves in serious legal trouble.
That is precisely the situation Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Inc. is facing now. The New Hampshire Coca-Cola bottler and distributor was hit with a federal lawsuit by the EEOC on Feb. 17, 2026, for sex discrimination.
The issue began when a male employee at the Londonderry production center heard about a “Women’s Forum” taking place at the Mohegan Sun Casino. Around 250 female employees were invited to the two-day forum, which included high-level speakers, including Jennifer Mann, the president of Coca-Cola North America, and other top-tier corporate executives.
The man filed a complaint with the EEOC in late 2024, arguing that the women were being given professional advantages denied to him based on his sex. While the company saw the event as an empowerment initiative uplifting female employees, male employees felt differently. The women were offered travel, lodging and two days away from their posts without losing pay or PTO. Most importantly, they were given exclusive access to “career-altering networks.”
See also: From Nike to Coca-Cola: EEOC puts Fortune 500 on notice over DEI
Throughout 2025, the EEOC and Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Inc. have been engaged in legal proceedings, but the production company has refused to admit fault or change its policies. This has led to the EEOC’s...
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