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Employers have been pushed in opposite directions on DEI in 2025, with political backlash meeting continued employee demand. Workplace inclusion experts offer new books in 2026 to help business leaders navigate this challenging landscape. 2025 has been a challenging year for business leaders and human resources professionals navigating diversity, equity and inclusion. Despite concerted political backlash against DEI, employees across age, gender, race and ethnicity demographics continue to report high levels of support for workplace inclusion initiatives. Organizational leaders seeking expert advice on workplace inclusion will have four new resources available in 2026 to help chart a path forward. These are the titles to look out for, plus two bonus picks from 2025. Workplace Inclusion And DEI Books Coming Out In 2026 It’s not too early to start building your workplace inclusion book list for 2026, with new releases on critical topics including the future of DEI, male allyship for gender equity, and managing a neurodiverse workforce. Four new books coming out in 2026 offer expert advice to business leaders on workplace inclusion, the future of DEI, male allyship, and leading a neurodiverse workforce. Barrett-Koehler Publications; Simon & Schuster; Matt Holt; Springer 1. Fixing Fairness: 4 Tenets to Transform Diversity Backlash into Progress for All Fixing Fairness assesses the evolution of workplace diversity initiatives and offers a new framework for moving beyond traditional DEI concepts. The book seeks to reset DEI conversations to meet employee demands within the current environment of division and backlash. MORE FOR YOU Author and organizational consultant Lily Zheng goes behind the DEI headlines to address the underlying reality that over 80% of Americans support the values of diversity and inclusion, but only 20% of people report a direct benefit from workplace DEI programs. “I wrote this book to close that gap with cutting-edge strategies to help leaders turn their DEI deadlock, anxiety, and backlash into real progress for everyone,” said Zheng, in an interview. "Our workplaces are long overdue for true fairness, access, inclusion and representation for all—and Fixing Fairness shares a blueprint to make that future a reality.” Fixing Fairness is available by pre-order for release on January 13, 2026, from Berrett-Koehler Publishers. 2. How Equality Wins: A New Vision For An Inclusive America How Equality Wins confronts the increasing barriers to diversity, equity and inclusion that are threatening forward progress toward workplace equality. Authors Kenji Yoshino and David Glasgow, law professors and founders of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at NYU School of Law, offer a candid path forward for organizational leaders seeking to build fair and respectful workplaces. “To survive the relentless political, legal, and cultural assault, the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion will need to change. This book is our blueprint and manifesto for what the future version of DEI should look like, said Glasgow, in an interview. "It offers practical strategies to respond to skeptics of DEI, adjust diversity programs to reduce legal and social risks, and communicate our values more effectively in a polarized era.” The book’s research-backed guidance is based on the authors’ extensive legal expertise and experience advising Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits. How Equality Wins is available by pre-order for release on February 17, 2026, from Simon & Schuster. 3. Men At Work: The Roadmap To Gender Partnership Why do women remain under-represented in organizational leadership? Author Jennifer McCollum, president and CEO of Catalyst, tackles a critical missing component: the participation and accountability of men. "In Men at Work, I reveal a surprising truth: the future of workplace inclusion depends on moving men from the sidelines into true partnership," said McCullum, in an interview. “Women are still left behind in pay, representation, and opportunity, but when men and women operate as gender partners, fairness expands, performance accelerates, and organizations thrive.” Men At Work makes the persuasive case for why and how to engage men as partners in the quest to advance women’s workplace leadership, and reveals how men benefit from gender equity as well. “Men, too, gain freedom from outdated stereotypes and a deeper sense of belonging,” McCullum explained. The book offers insights from women’s personal journeys to leadership, along with Catalyst data, to provide actionable advice to business leaders and organizations for building inclusive work cultures. “This book is both a wake-up call and a roadmap for leaders to turn inclusion into a true competitive advantage,” said McCullum. Men At Work is available by pre-order for release on March 3, 2026, from Matt Holt Books. 4. Leadership in Neurodiversity and Neurodivergence An estimated 15 to 20 percent of all employees are neurodivergent, which includes individuals with attention deficit disorder, attention deficit-hyperactive disorder, dyslexia, dyscalculia and autism. This represents an enormous talent pool that employers can no longer ignore and remain competitive. Authors Marc Helmond and Malte Martensen, business professors at IU International University of Applied Sciences, recognized a knowledge gap between academia and industry when it comes to using the full potential of neurodivergent employees. Leadership in Neurodiversity and Neurodivergence aims to narrow that divide. “The motivation of this book is to increase awareness of neurodivergent employees and talents in organizations and enterprises,” said Helmold, in an interview. The book offers practical guidance for recruiting, retaining and engaging neurodiverse talent. The book includes case examples, work aides and best practices to create an inclusive workplace environment and enable neurodivergent individuals to thrive. The authors demonstrate how creating an inclusive workplace environment for neurodivergent individuals can be a competitive advantage by increasing productivity, retention, teamwork and innovation. Leadership in Neurodiversity and Neurodivergence will be released by Springer on April 27, 2026. Workplace Inclusion And DEI Books You May Have Missed From 2025 While waiting for the 2026 release dates, round out your workplace inclusion book list with two publications you may have missed from 2025. Two top DEI books from 2025 offer business leaders expert advice about how to support employees with eldercare responsibilities and how to build an inclusive workplace in the face of DEI backlash. Indigo River; DTUI 1. Eldercare: Helping Businesses Support Employees Who Are Caregivers Over 37 million Americans are providing unpaid eldercare to someone aged 65 or older, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means that more workers than ever before are caring for aging parents during the height of their own careers. Scot Cheben’s Eldercare reveals the substantial impact that eldercare responsibilities are having on both employees and on businesses. The book offers actionable organizational strategies, policies and resources for employers to create a more supportive environment for employees who are eldercare providers. Eldercare also makes the business case for investing in support infrastructure, which decreases burnout, increases productivity and reduces turnover of highly experienced and talented members of a company’s workforce. In a multigenerational workforce, supporting employees with eldercare responsibilities is not just compassionate, it’s a business imperative. “Caregiving isn’t just personal; it’s a workplace inclusion issue every leader must address,” said Cheben, in an interview. “When HR and business leaders support employees balancing eldercare, they reduce burnout, safeguard productivity, and build resilient, engaged organizations.” Eldercare was published by Indigo River Publishing on June 24, 2025. 2. Reimagining Fairness: An Equity, Cultural Diversity, and Inclusion Competency Approach Reimagining Fairness introduces a new approach to workplace inclusion by replacing diversity metrics with a systems-based strategy that links equity to business goals. Author Billy Vaughn, senior managing partner of the Diversity Executive Leadership Academy, provides business leaders with legal insights, case studies and step-by-step strategies for navigating backlash while advancing workplace inclusion. “For decades, organizations have attempted to implement one-size-fits-all ‘best practices.’ Yet, these efforts often fail to dismantle systemic barriers, increase legal risk, or remain performative rather than truly transformative,” said Vaughn, in an interview. He hopes that the book will help business leaders “build a workforce and workplace that offers a competitive edge and is resilient in the face of legal, political, and cultural pressures on cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion.” The book also builds the business case for resisting retreat from workplace inclusion, by demonstrating how an organizational culture of fairness strengthens competitiveness, innovation and trust. Reimagining Fairness was published by DTUI on May 5, 2025. Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions
