Employment Authority: EEOC Faces Policy Pivot Pushback – Law360

Report on U.S. Employment Law Developments and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Analysis as of October 24, 2025

1. Litigation Concerning the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

   Recent legal challenges have been brought against the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission following reversals on established legal positions. These lawsuits directly engage with the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals by questioning the stability and efficacy of institutions designed to protect worker rights.

   • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The EEOC’s primary function is to enforce laws against workplace discrimination. The current litigation impacts its capacity to reduce inequalities based on gender, race, and other protected characteristics, a core tenet of SDG 10.
   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: Consistent enforcement of equal opportunity laws is fundamental to achieving decent work for all (Target 8.5). The legal uncertainty surrounding the EEOC could undermine protections that ensure fair and productive employment.
   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: These lawsuits scrutinize the accountability and reliability of a key governmental body. The outcome will have significant implications for the strength and public trust in institutions responsible for upholding justice in employment.

2. Operational Impact of Government Shutdown on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

   The ongoing government shutdown is significantly impeding the functions of the National Labor Relations Board, the primary agency for enforcing U.S. labor law in relation to collective bargaining and unfair labor practices.

   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The NLRB’s role is critical to protecting labor rights, a key component of Target 8.8. The shutdown halts investigations and case processing, directly weakening the protection of workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively.
   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The inability of the NLRB to operate demonstrates institutional vulnerability. This failure compromises access to justice for workers and employers, undermining the goal of building effective and accountable institutions at all levels.

3. U.S. Supreme Court Examination of Arbitration Exemptions for Last-Mile Drivers

   The U.S. Supreme Court is anticipated to address whether last-mile delivery drivers are exempt from mandatory arbitration requirements under federal law. This case is pivotal for the rights of a growing segment of the workforce.

   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The central issue is access to justice (Target 16.3). A ruling that enforces mandatory arbitration could limit workers’ access to public courts, channeling disputes into private systems that may favor employers.
   • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The decision will directly affect a workforce that often experiences precarious employment conditions. Clarifying their access to legal recourse is a matter of reducing inequalities in the labor market.
   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: Defining the scope of arbitration exemptions impacts the fundamental labor rights and protections (Target 8.8) available to gig economy and logistics workers, influencing the standard for decent work in this sector.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article’s entire focus on employment law, including the roles of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and the rights of workers like “last-mile drivers,” directly connects to the goal of ensuring decent work for all.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The text discusses lawsuits, the functioning of government agencies (EEOC, NLRB), and the involvement of the U.S. Supreme Court. These elements are central to ensuring access to justice and maintaining effective, accountable institutions that uphold the rule of law.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The EEOC’s mandate is to enforce laws against employment discrimination. The lawsuits mentioned against the commission for its legal positions are directly related to the goal of ensuring equal opportunity and reducing inequalities in the economic sphere.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
  • Target 8.8: “Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers…” This is directly relevant to the work of the NLRB and the Supreme Court case concerning arbitration requirements for drivers, which pertains to the protection of worker rights in potentially precarious employment.
  • Target 8.5: “…achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all…” The EEOC’s role in preventing discrimination is fundamental to ensuring that all individuals have access to decent work opportunities.
• Under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):
  • Target 16.3: “Promote the rule of law… and ensure equal access to justice for all.” The article’s mention of lawsuits and Supreme Court cases exemplifies the use of legal systems to resolve disputes and seek justice in employment matters.
  • Target 16.6: “Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.” The reference to the EEOC “reversing course on certain legal positions” and the impact of a government shutdown on the NLRB both speak to the effectiveness, accountability, and operational stability of these key institutions.
• Under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities):
  • Target 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices…” The work of the EEOC and the legal challenges to its positions are at the core of implementing policies to ensure equal opportunity in employment.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• The article is a brief summary and does not contain quantitative data, but it implies several qualitative indicators that could be used to measure progress:
  • Indicator for Target 16.3: The number and nature of lawsuits filed concerning employment rights, such as those “brought against the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,” can serve as an indicator of citizens’ access to and use of the justice system to challenge institutional policies.
  • Indicator for Target 16.6: The operational status of key labor institutions, as highlighted by the “government shutdown … impacting the National Labor Relations Board,” can be a direct indicator of institutional resilience and effectiveness.
  • Indicator for Target 8.8: The progression of legal cases concerning worker protections to the highest judicial levels, such as the Supreme Court potentially deciding on arbitration for “last-mile drivers,” indicates how the legal framework is adapting to protect workers in new or precarious forms of employment.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: law360.com