Apple’s board of directors has recommended shareholders vote against a proposal by the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) to consider scrapping the tech giant’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The company argues that the proposal “inappropriately attempts to restrict” and “micromanage” its operations and policies.
The NCPPR claims that DEI poses risks, including litigation, customer backlash and divisiveness among employees, which outweigh the benefits. However, Apple maintains a well-established compliance program and actively manages business and legal conduct to ensure it complies with laws in multiple jurisdictions.
Apple’s efforts to promote diversity and inclusion are not new, dating back to 1993 when its supplier diversity program was established. The company has also hired its first vice president of inclusion and diversity in 2017 and has implemented numerous employee groups and networks.
Despite the backlash against DEI initiatives, some companies are finding ways to adapt and evolve their commitments. However, others are facing pushback from right-wing activists, legal groups, customers, and even the incoming Trump administration.
Apple is not alone in this struggle. Other companies, such as Meta, John Deere, and Walmart, have made changes to their DEI commitments following pressure from critics. Meanwhile, some companies, like McDonald’s, are facing lawsuits over their DEI practices after announcing rollbacks.
Experts say that while the backlash against DEI initiatives is real, it does not necessarily mean that companies should abandon their efforts altogether. Nani Vishwanath, a consultant and facilitator of DEI and employee experiences, notes that companies need to understand why they implemented these programs in the first place and think about how they can evolve and improve.
“The only way for organizations to remain relevant and meaningful is to think about what practices they need to evolve,” Vishwanath said. “DEI is vastly misunderstood, and companies don’t always understand why they implemented these initiatives.”
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/13/business/apple-dei-companies/index.html