Meta is ending its major diversity, equity, and inclusion program, joining other giant companies including: ford, mcdonalds and walmart Companies that have pulled back from DEI initiatives.
Meta’s move comes three days after the tech company announced it would stop third-party fact-checking of content on Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms. Axios first reported that Meta was ending its DEI program for recruiting, training and selecting suppliers, citing an internal employee memo.
A Meta spokesperson confirmed to CBS News that Meta is eliminating its DEI efforts.
“The legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing,” Janelle Gale, Meta’s vice president of human resources, said in explaining the policy shift.
Mehta et al.’s retreat from DEI policy follows a 2023 Supreme Court ruling Prohibition of affirmative action There was also pressure from conservative political activists on university admissions. Other large companies exiting DEI programs include motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson, hardware chain Lowe’s, farm equipment maker John Deere and Actor’s Supply.
More recently, the shift away from DEI coincided with President-elect Donald Trump’s surprising political return.
Daniel Snell, co-founder of Arrival, a U.K.-based consulting firm focused on corporate leadership and culture, said, “Many global companies are looking to Trump if they haven’t already finished their DEI agenda. “They will use the second term of the president to finally kill the DEI agenda.” he told CBS MoneyWatch in an email. “Groups trying to curry favor with President Trump are doing it publicly, while others will take their time and do it quietly because they don’t want any potential public backlash or fallout.”
Diversity efforts intensified in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in May 2020, with many companies facing attacks from anti-woke protesters targeting companies, universities, and other organizations in court and on social media. is moving backwards. Largest racial justice protest in America since the civil rights movement.
Some corporate leaders also question the value of diversity and its contribution to the company’s bottom line, and DEI is “considered by many leaders to be an impediment to performance and growth,” Snell said.
Defender of DEI
Other companies such as Apple, Costco, and Target continue to maintain and defend DEI policies.
Costco’s board of directors is advising shareholders to vote against a proposal to eliminate the company’s DEI program ahead of its January 23 investor meeting amid calls from activists. robbie starbuck etc. Call for a boycott of the Warehouse Club and cancellation of membership.
“Above all, our diverse group of employees brings originality and creativity to our product offering, facilitating the ‘treasure hunt’ that our customers value,” the retailer said.
The proposal, submitted by the conservative think tank National Center for Public Policy Research, argues that DEI poses litigation, reputational, and financial risks for the company and its shareholders.
Jeff Lykes, a Costco board member and DEI advocate, has touted the economic benefits of a diverse workplace, posting on social media in November that “attacks on DEI are not only bad for business, they are bad for our economy.” “A diverse workforce drives innovation.” , expand the market and drive growth. ”
Target, for example, is defending itself in court against a lawsuit from a conservative advocacy group that claims the retailer misled investors about the financial risks of its DEI practices.
