Amazon has removed references to diversity and inclusion (DEI) from its annual report, following a shift towards “proven outcomes” and amid growing conservative backlash against companies’ diversity programs.
In its 2024 report, the tech giant has cut sentences that highlighted investment in DEI initiatives and promoted equity. This move comes after Amazon executive Candi Castleberry announced plans to wind down outdated DEI programs by the end of 2024.
Other major technology companies, including Meta Platforms and Alphabet’s Google, have also rolled back their diversity programs in response to criticism from conservative groups. Disney has added a new DEI initiative focused on hiring U.S. military veterans.
The move is part of a broader trend of companies scaling back diversity initiatives, years after pushing for more inclusive policies following protests against police brutality in 2020. The Justice Department has warned that it will investigate and penalize private sector companies with illegal diversity programs.
Amazon’s decision has drawn opposition from state attorneys general, who have expressed support for federal civil rights laws protecting workers from discriminatory practices.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/technology