Investigation Request Against Penguin Random House
America First Legal (AFL) has submitted a formal request to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), seeking an investigation into alleged unlawful race- and gender-based employment practices at Penguin Random House. This stems from the publisher’s public commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
A letter, dated December 16, 2025, was addressed to EEOC Chair Andrea R. Lucas, asking the agency to initiate a “commissioner’s charge” and examine the practices of Penguin Random House LLC.
The AFL claims that the publisher’s methods for recruiting, hiring, promoting, and retaining employees “appear to discriminate” against individuals based on their “race, color, sex, or national origin.” These alleged practices could violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Bobby Crossin, an attorney with AFL, commented, “Penguin Random House seems to be using race and gender to influence its workforce in the name of ‘more inclusive business practices.’ Legal frameworks surrounding civil rights prohibit discrimination, regardless of how it is labeled.”
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The EEOC exists to uphold civil rights laws prohibiting workplace discrimination based on various protected characteristics, including race and gender. It holds the authority to investigate complaints, request records, and refer cases to the Department of Justice.
AFL’s letter asserts that PRH’s policies “seem to be aimed at excluding white men,” describing this as illegal.
The letter highlights PRH’s public DEI materials, including a section titled “Our Approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” suggesting that the company may be using protected characteristics as criteria in its hiring decisions.
Penguin Random House has stated that its hiring practices reflect demographic considerations. The company claims it is committed to “developing a diverse workforce that mirrors the society in which we live,” and reports employee demographic data annually to measure its progress.
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PRH also emphasizes accountability among its leadership regarding the execution of DEI strategies, which include setting specific goals and achieving measurable results. Additionally, it has designated a full-time executive vice president to lead its diversity efforts.
The AFL letter refers to PRH’s demographic reporting, indicating comparisons between “white employees and BIPOC employees,” as well as commitment to diversity in hiring and leadership roles.
Quotes from PRH documents indicate that while the company is noticing a rise in the proportion of new black hires, it acknowledges that it has not met or maintained its hiring demographic goals. The necessity of targeted recruitment efforts is underscored.
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AFL points out that while PRH’s job postings include equal employment opportunity language, its extensive DEI communications seem contradictory. The organization asserts that PRH prioritizes maintaining favorable workforce demographics and promotes job development through its DEI Council, warning that the EEOC risked violating federal law.
AFL’s letter calls for the EEOC to scrutinize whether PRH leaders are held accountable for implementing the company’s DEI vision, assessing how DEI principles are integrated into talent development, and examining if any employee resource groups might be excluding individuals based on protected characteristics.
Penguin Random House reportedly generated over $5 billion in revenue in 2024, which is an 8.5% increase from the previous year, as noted by Publishers Weekly.
Conclusion of AFL’s Letter
The letter from AFL concludes by urging the commission to take necessary enforcement actions if it finds any violations of the law. They emphasized that their concerns focus on employment practices rather than the content of PRH’s public disclosures.
Fox News Digital has reached out for comments from both the EEOC and Penguin Random House and will provide updates as they become available.
