Dedicated to DEI: Connecticut Launches Office of Equity and Opportunity

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have come under fire in the private sector, but it seems that corporations are staying the course.

For example, one 2023 survey found the majority of large employers (those with at least 250 employees and $25 million in revenue) saying they see a positive value to DEI programs, with 73% of the 400 C-suite and HR leaders reporting their organizations plan to expand on their existing DEI efforts.

A 2024 poll from employment law firm Littler Mendelson found 91% of more than 320 C-suite executives saying they are still prioritizing DEI within their organizations, and 57% reporting they have already expanded their DEI efforts.

A recent executive order coming from Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont offers some evidence that public sector employers are just as resolute in their commitment to continue advancing workplace DEI initiatives.

On July 16, Gov. Lamont announced that he signed an order that directs the establishment of the Connecticut Office of Equity and Opportunity. The new office will be responsible for leading Connecticut’s efforts to ensure that state government is a leader in equity and inclusion, “with the goals of eliminating institutional and systemic barriers and creating opportunity and access for all those it serves and employs,” according to a statement from Gov. Lamont’s office.

Administratively held within the Governor’s office, the office will be led by a chief equity and opportunity officer, who will be appointed by Gov. Lamont and charged with a number of tasks outlined in the executive order, such as:

⃰ Serving as the coordinator of the state’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategy

⃰ Supporting equity-oriented efforts throughout the state to ensure services and resources are available and accessible to all Connecticut residents

⃰ Conducting comprehensive assessments of current and proposed policies and practices

⃰ Developing a formal process for the development and implementation of agency equity plans

⃰ Establishing statewide diversity, equity and inclusion benchmarks and measures of progress

The executive order also requires all state employees to participating in DEI-specific training, as coordinated by the chief equity and opportunity officer, while all state agencies must develop an agency equity plan with the chief equity and opportunity officer’s assistance.

“I firmly believe that government should actively seek out and engage with individuals and opinions beyond those who typically have access and opportunity because doing so will create a stronger workforce within government while also crafting more effective and representative public policies,” Gov. Lamont said, in a statement.

“State government is accountable to the public and we have a responsibility to maintain trust and confidence by demonstrating our commitment to fairness, inclusivity, and social progress. By doing everything we can to create a fair, equitable and inclusive environment representative of the people who live in our state, we can address historical and ongoing disparities and promote social justice.”