EEOC Sues Coca-Cola Unit Over Women-Only Event Exclusion

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit Wednesday in federal court in New Hampshire against Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, accusing the company of sex discrimination for excluding male employees from a women-only networking event held in September 2024. The suit marks the first legal action by the agency targeting workplace diversity practices since President Donald Trump began his second term.

Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, a New Hampshire-based bottler and distributor owned by Japan's Kirin Holdings, hosted the two-day event at the Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort in Connecticut. Approximately 250 female employees attended sessions focused on professional development, including speeches from company executives, team-building exercises, recreational activities, a social reception, and interactions with service dogs. The event's theme was "Embrace Your Authenticity: Break Barriers, Be Genuine, Inspire Change," according to a company social media post cited in the lawsuit.

The EEOC alleges that the company violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on sex. By inviting only women and providing them with...