Meta and Amazon have reportedly discontinued their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, citing evolving legal and political landscapes and concerns about the perception of preferential treatment.
Multiple news outlets reported Friday that Meta and Amazon have ended their DEI programs, referencing internal documents. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, explained its decision in a memo from its vice president of human resources, Janelle Gale, published by Axios.
“The legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing,” the memo stated.
“The term ‘DEI’ has also become charged, in part because it is understood by some as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others,” the memo continued.
“Regarding hiring, we will continue to recruit candidates from diverse backgrounds, but we will discontinue the Diverse Slate Approach,” Gale wrote, according to Axios.
“We previously ended representation goals for women and ethnic minorities. Having goals can create the impression that decisions are being made based on race or gender. While this has never been our practice, we want to eliminate any impression of it,” the memo explained.
Reuters reported on a December memo from Amazon indicating that the company was “winding down outdated programs and materials” related to representation and inclusion, aiming for completion by the end of 2024.
“Instead of individual groups developing programs, we are focusing on initiatives with proven success – and we also aim to foster a truly inclusive culture,” Amazon’s vice president of inclusive experiences and technology, Candi Castleberry, wrote in a note to employees, according to CNBC.
McDonald’s, Ford, and Walmart are among several major corporations that have recently scaled back or eliminated their DEI programs. The practice of “diversity hires” has faced criticism from conservatives who argue it is discriminatory and harms company performance.
A 2023 US Supreme Court ruling against considering race in college admissions has spurred over 60 lawsuits challenging DEI practices in various companies and institutions, according to the Guardian.