Former EEOC Chair Sets Stage for HR’s Future at Center’s Annual Meeting

HRPA’s Center On Executive Compensation broke attendance records at its annual meeting this week. The agenda highlighted key issues shaping the evolving role of CHROs and Heads of Total Rewards, including pay equity, DEI, and strategies for stronger internal partnerships with HR, legal, finance, and total rewards teams.

 The day began with an insightful and wide-ranging conversation with the Honorable Janet Dhillon, former Chair and Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, led by Center CEO Ani Huang.  Chair Dhillon previously held legal and corporate roles at U.S. Airways, Burlington Stores, and Dollar Tree. 

Chair Dhillon shared her views on how the elections results are likely to impact HR and the workplace:

• The new administration is expected to take a lighter regulatory approach, focusing more on compliance assistance, except in areas like DEI and immigration.

Yes, but: DEI programs could face challenges, with potential restrictions or enforcement actions on employer actions to enhance workforce diversity programs. 

• Andrea Lucas, the EEOC’s only Republican commissioner, is expected to become the new EEOC Chair, but official action on DEI will not occur until Republicans have a majority on the five-member Commission.

• The EEOC will not pursue EEO-1 Component 2 pay data collection. However, it is possible that EEO-1  data reporting requirements (race, ethnicity, gender demographics) could end when the current regulatory approval expires on November 30, 2026. 

Immigration is another key focus, with Chair Dhillon predicting early enforcement action from the Trump administration to set workplace immigration expectations. 

• She urged employers to prepare for workplace raids and anti-immigration policies, starting with review of the company’s I-9 process.

The bottom line: Chair Dhillon advised, “If you see pain points with certain regulations or laws, work with groups like HRPA to get help from the new administration.”