Companies are peeling back the masks of diversity, equity, and inclusion and reaffirming profits above all else as the driving force behind company-wide policies.
Following the George Floyd protests in the summer of 2020, many companies responded by stepping up their diversity efforts. majority of american voices (i.e. consumers) express their desire for expression.
However, as some experts speculated, the company’s change in workplace environment appears to have been more of a temporary effort to appease dissatisfied people.
As felon-elect Donald Trump prepares to enter the White House, some companies are banking on his choice. “Anti-woke” and anti-DEI rhetoric. Rolling back programs to make workplaces more inclusive.
Additionally, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s strike decision in June 2023, affirmative action In universities, it seems like companies have moved away from diversity efforts. Concerns about legal implications.
Here are some of the companies that rolled back their DEI policies in the last year:
walmart
Walmart—The Company That Hire over 2 million people worldwide-Announced in November It said it would end its DEI initiative.
Walmart also said it would not renew its Center for Racial Equity, a program launched by Walmart CEO Doug McMillan following the Floyd protests. At the time, the program promised to provide $100 million in grants over five years to help address systemic racism.
macmillans 2020 promise This includes changes at Walmart to “actively shape a more inclusive culture.”
In conjunction with the latest rollback, Walmart will stop sharing data with the Humans Right Campaign, an advocacy group that reports on LGBTQ+ initiatives across the workplace. The company will also stop selling certain LGBTQ+ items on its website and stop using words like Latinx and DEI in its official communications.
“We’ve been on a journey, and we know we’re not perfect, but every decision we make fosters a sense of belonging and opens doors of opportunity for every associate, customer and supplier, creating a Walmart for everyone,” the company said in a statement.
Amber Madison, co-founder of DEI consulting firm Peoplism, told The New York Times: “Walmart preparing for the Trump presidency and Department of Justice.” “If Walmart’s assessment of the Trump administration is that he will protect his friends and pursue his enemies, then this shows Walmart that they are friends.”
ford
Last August, Ford CEO Jim Farley emailed employees: Refusal to share information With the Human Rights Campaign.
“We are mindful that our employees and customers have diverse beliefs,” Farley wrote. “The external and legal environment related to political and social issues continues to evolve.”
Popular right-wing influencer Robby Starbuck took credit for these changes, as well as Walmart’s, and claimed the company made the cuts after Starbuck revealed he was investigating Walmart’s policies.
But the companies responding to the conservative backlash appear to be drawing on a bigger picture of the cultural shift taking place as America prepares for a second Trump election.
In response to Ford’s decision at the time, Human Rights Campaign President Kelly Robinson said in a statement, “Ford Motor Company’s short-sighted decisions will have long-term consequences.”
“Ford Motor Company is abdicating its financial obligation to recruit and retain the best talent from across its entire talent pool. When making purchasing decisions, consumers should be mindful that Ford Motor Company has abandoned its commitment to the community,” she said.
lowes
Lowe’s in the same month as Ford. separate from itself The Human Rights Campaign refuses to share data with its advocacy programs.
The company said in an internal memo: Shared with AP They say they have begun “reviewing” their programs in light of the Supreme Court’s affirmative action decision. And, according to the memo, the Lowe’s company decided to combine resource groups representing “diverse segments of our workforce” into one parent group.
Lowe’s also decided to end its sponsorship of programs outside of its business markets and no longer participate in festivals or parades.
“Further changes may occur over time,” the note reads. “But what remains the same is our commitment to our people.”
toyota
Last October, Toyota announced through a memo. Obtained from Bloomberg The automaker said it will “narrow its community efforts toward STEM education and workforce preparation.”
Following other companies that have rejected DEI initiatives, Toyota has decided to stop sharing data with the Human Rights Campaign.
The car company was another one of the projects Starbuck championed, and the activist also took credit for following Toyota’s announcement.
But a company spokeswoman said Starbucks’ impact on the company was “minimal.”
tractor supply
Tractor supply in June Disconnect from diversity and climate change efforts. After receiving conservative backlash.
The Tennessee-based company also decided not to submit data to the Human Rights Campaign and to no longer participate in events like Pride that are not directly related to the company’s business.
According to the Associated Press, Tractor Supply said it would eliminate its DEI role and goals, but did not specify what that would entail.
The company’s decision followed backlash from online conservatives, to which Tractor Supply responded that it had “heard the following from customers.” [they had] “I was disappointed,” he said, adding, “I took the feedback to heart.”
Stanley Black and Decker
In September, the power tool manufacturer quietly distanced itself from DEI’s efforts. Remove all references We promote diversity or equality on our website.
The company once had a rich online presence for DEI support and references to funds for equity and racial justice, but errors have occurred on the Stanley Black & Decker website that have erased such information or broken links. According to the Daily MailBritish right-wing tabloid.
The tool company faced backlash after reportedly spending $280,000 lobbying for passage of the Equality Act and donating about $10.5 million to “racial equality” organizations as part of its “Racial Equality Roadmap.”
The list goes on
Unfortunately, the list of companies that have pulled back on their inclusion efforts continues to grow.
As right-wing ideologues and the Supreme Court target race-based diversity programs, companies are looking to what matters most to them: profits.
