The case study

Given the organization's global reach and commitment to providing medical care in crisis situations irrespective of race, religion, or political affiliations, MSF is a rich case study for examining the application and impact of JDEI principles.

**Profile of the Organization:** Doctors Without Borders, known internationally as Mdecins Sans Frontires (MSF), is a non-profit, international humanitarian medical NGO. It provides emergency aid to people affected by armed conflicts, epidemics, natural disasters, and exclusion from healthcare. MSF operates in over 70 countries, delivering urgent medical care to those most in need.

**Recent JDEI Initiative, Program, or Issue:* While specific, recent JDEI initiatives by MSF may require more detailed research, the organization has historically worked towards ensuring diversity and inclusivity in its operations. This includes efforts to recruit a diverse workforce that can effectively respond to crises around the world, implementing policies that ensure equity in the treatment of patients and staff, and striving for inclusion across all levels of its operations. An example could be their response to the COVID-19 pandemic, where they emphasized equitable access to medical care and vaccines, especially in underprivileged areas.

**Initial Impression:** Based on public materials, MSF appears deeply committed to its principles of neutrality, impartiality, and medical ethics, which align with JDEI values. Their efforts to provide care in some of the world's most dangerous and difficult-to-reach areas speak to a strong organizational commitment to equity and inclusion. However, as with any large organization, there may be unseen challenges in fully realizing these principles internally among staff and externally among the communities they serve.

**Justification for Why This Organization Would Benefit from an Audit:** Given its global presence and the diverse communities it serves, MSF could benefit from a JDEI audit to ensure its internal practices align with its outward values and mission. An audit could help identify any gaps between policy and practice, areas where implicit biases may exist, and opportunities to enhance diversity and inclusion within its workforce. This is crucial for maintaining the trust and efficacy needed in their operations, particularly in sensitive or conflict-affected regions.

**The Business Case for Diversity at MSF:** Drawing from "Does Diversity Pay? A Replication of Herring (2009)," diversity within organizations is linked to better innovation, broader perspectives, and enhanced problem-solving capabilities. For MSF, a diverse workforce that reflects the global communities it serves could enhance its operational effectiveness, foster innovative solutions to medical and logistical challenges, and strengthen its credibility and trustworthiness among local populations. Diversity can also improve team dynamics, leading to more effective and compassionate care delivery. By embodying the principles of JDEI, MSF not only aligns its practices with its humanitarian values but also strengthens its capacity to respond to global health crises.

Assignment Overview

For this assignment, you will research and analyze protected classes and the laws that protect them from discrimination. Protected classes came about from court case decisions of documented discrimination. The resulting laws have designated certain protections, but these protected classes are often still contested in court. In addition, other classes of people seek protection under the law to add to or expand classes that are currently protected. This assignment will provide you with an opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills related to protected classes, discrimination, and the legal standards for diversity and inclusion.

Instructions

• Begin by browsing different news stories from the Newsroom: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionLinks to an external site.
• Look for a press release about a case with some similarity to your case study:
  • Are the organizations similar?
  • Does the case cover something similar to your organization's initiative, issue, or program?
• You will probably not find a "perfect match" (unless your organization was sued!), but there should be some element of the case that overlaps or translates to your organization.
• Read through the press release and then conduct research on the case to find other news articles or coverage of the case.
• Using the press release and your other findings, write a summary and analysis of the case that includes:
• • An introduction to the case, the parties involved, and what is being litigated.
  • The protected class at the center of the case and the grounds for the challenge.
  • The decision of the case (or if it is pending, the current state of the case).
  • An analysis of the impact of discrimination on the individual(s) in the case, followed by a discussion of how members of the protected class in general (not simply the specific individual(s)) must contend with such workplace discrimination.
  • The potential implications of this case on the organization in your case study.