American City Business Journals Quotes Tashwanda Pinchback Dixon about How the SCOTUS Opinion on Affirmative Action Impacts Businesses

Tashwanda Pinchback Dixon, partner in the firm’s Atlanta office and member of the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice, interviewed with American City Business Journals about how the Supreme Court of the United States’ ruling on affirmative action and college admissions could impact businesses and their hiring programs.

In the article published June 28, 2023, Tashwanda explained why it is a good time for employers to go over their hiring practices, noting that quota systems where a specified number of open jobs are reserved for minority candidates probably run afoul of this ruling and could open the employer up to litigation.

She encouraged companies not to abandon their diversity, equity and inclusion programs, stressing that the new ruling should not affect those programs if they do not include a quota system. 

In the article, Tashwanda recommended companies to maintain goals concerning hiring diversity and increasing the pool of diverse candidates, instead of race-based hiring decisions. 

“It’s important for employers to be mindful of whether they’re establishing a quota-based system for hiring, or whether they’re just establishing goals and using certain tactics to increase the pool of recruits,” Tashwanda was quoted as saying.

Tashwanda is a trial lawyer who has successfully resolved a wide variety of labor and employment disputes as well as providing employment counseling and crisis management assistance. She represents management in both union and nonunion settings in the litigation of federal and state employment and labor law claims, with a particular focus on workplace safety and health (OSHA). She is experienced in litigating high profile and high stakes OSHA matters and is often called upon by clients shortly after devastating accidents to advise them through the OSHA investigation and litigation processes. 

Tashwanda is a member of the firm’s executive committee and DEI Council. She is also chair of our Lawyers of Color affinity group, Balch BIPOC Lawyers Opportunities, Culture and Connection (Balch BLOCC).

American City Business Journals is the largest publisher of metropolitan business newsweeklies in the United States, with 44 business publications across the country.