America First Legal (AFL) has filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Williams-Sonoma, Inc., alleging unlawful employment practices. AFL also sent a letter to Williams-Sonoma’s Board of Directors demanding an end to these practices and compliance with federal securities laws requiring full disclosure of the risks associated with their "diversity, equity, and inclusion" policies.
Williams-Sonoma, known for brands such as Pottery Barn and West Elm, publicly states that race, sex, and national origin are factors in its hiring and contracting practices. According to the company's 2024 Annual Report, their Equity Action Plan resulted in “approximately 68.1% of our total workforce identified as female and approximately 41.1% identified as an ethnic minority group.” The report also noted that “56.6% of Vice Presidents and above identified as female.”
The Equity Action Committee at Williams-Sonoma reportedly rewards executives for considering race, color, sex, or national origin in hiring decisions. This plan includes goals for diversity among company board members and nominees and establishes "Associate Equity Network Groups," which AFL claims favor certain groups over others.
Racial balancing in hiring is prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Despite this prohibition, Williams-Sonoma's SEC filings highlight their commitment to diversity policies without acknowledging potential legal issues or market risks.
Reed D. Rubinstein, America First Legal Senior Vice President stated: “Woke corporations’ toxic, divisive, and unlawful DEI policies are a clear and present danger to the Constitution’s guarantee of legal equality... This derived privilege does not cover the abuse of our citizens’ rights; AFL will continue working tirelessly to hold the woke corporate class accountable.”