The calls for diversity to be a business priority and fundamental component of corporate governance are increasing. In the new year, financial services companies in the United States are responding to regulators' requests for information regarding the diversity of their workplaces. Virtually every major financial services regulatory agency has implemented in recent years guidelines and requirements for increased diversity in their operations, resulting, in many cases, in surveys and other requests for information regarding these issues.

In the United States, employment decisions based on protected characteristics and quotas requiring the hiring of women or minorities is generally unlawful. The move toward mandating the appointment of women and minorities on company boards and increasing the representation of underrepresented minorities in the workforce is nevertheless picking up pace.